Devices, systems, and methods for navigation and usage guidance in a navigable space using wireless communication

ABSTRACT

A system for usage guidance using wireless communication includes a receiver configured to wirelessly receive a first signal from a transmitter, and a portable computing device coupled to the receiver and designed and configured to parse the first signal for at least a textual element, extract, from the at least a textual element, a unique transmitter identifier, provide a user identifier, receive a first data record including a first user-specific datum from a first database as a function of the user identifier, receive a second data record including a first item-specific datum from a second database as a function of the unique identifier, and generate a user-specific usage sequence as a function of the first user-specific datum and the first item specific datum. The system includes a user output component coupled to the portable computing device and configured to provide the user-specific usage sequence to the user.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

This application is a continuation in part of U.S. Nonprovisional patentapplication Ser. No. 15/871,976, filed on Jan. 15, 2018, and titled“DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR NAVIGATION AND USAGE GUIDANCE IN ANAVIGABLE SPACE USING WIRELESS COMMUNICATION” which claims priority toU.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/446,931, filed on Jan.17, 2017, and titled “A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WAYFINDING AND INFORMATIONGATHERING USING WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY.” Each of U.S. Nonprovisional patentapplication Ser. No. 15/871,976 and U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 62/446,931 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of localizedwireless communication In particular, the present invention is directedto devices, systems, and methods for navigation and usage guidance in anavigable space using wireless communication.

BACKGROUND

Navigation presents a perennial challenge for visually impaired persons.Without the ability to rely on sight, obstacles and goals alike are moredifficult to find. The art of wayfinding, or navigating, orientingoneself in, and using physical space, requires constant learning andinnovation, and has given rise to a number of techniques used inconcert. On sidewalks and in other areas designed for frequent travel,such as hallways, it is often possible to feel the way by touchingrailings and walls, and using aids such as white canes to search theground for guides and hazards. In familiar environs, such as the home oroffice, memory can serve as a primary guide, as the visually impairedperson follows a mental map he or she has formed through familiarity,with aids such as the white cane serving in a supplemental role todiscover unexpected obstacles. Some combination of feeling the way andmemory can be used to explore most areas in time, but the existingmethods often fall short in unfamiliar spaces that require more complexinteraction, such as public bathrooms. It can be awkward and slow tofind a sink or a bathroom stall by feel, and the layout of such spacesare not sufficiently predictable for navigation by guesswork.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In an aspect, a system for using usage-guidance using wirelesscommunication includes a wireless receiver, the wireless receiverconfigured to wirelessly receive from a transmitter a first signal. Thesystem includes a portable computing device, the portable computingdevice coupled to the wireless receiver. The portable computing deviceis designed and configured to parse the first signal for at least atextual element, extract, from the at least a textual element, a uniquetransmitter identifier, provide a user identifier, receive a first datarecord including a first user-specific datum from a first database as afunction of the user identifier, receive a second data record includinga first item-specific datum from a second database as a function of theunique identifier, and generate a user-specific usage sequence as afunction of the first user-specific datum and the first item specificdatum. The system includes a user output component coupled to theportable computing device and configured to provide the user-specificusage sequence to the user.

In another aspect, a method of usage guidance using wirelesscommunication includes wirelessly receiving, by a portable computingdevice coupled to a wireless receiver, a signal from a transmitterlocated at an item. The method includes parsing, by the portablecomputing device, the first signal for at least a textual element. Themethod includes extracting, by the portable computing device, from theat least a textual element, a unique transmitter identifier. The methodincludes providing, by the portable computing device, a user identifierof a user of the portable computing device. The method includesreceiving, by the portable computing device, a first data recordincluding a first user-specific datum from a first database as afunction of the user identifier. The method includes receiving, by theportable computing device, a second data record including a firstitem-specific datum from a second database as a function of the uniqueidentifier. The method includes generating, by the portable computingdevice, a user-specific usage sequence as a function of the firstuser-specific datum and the first item specific datum. The methodincludes providing, by the portable computing device, the user-specificusage sequence to the user.

These and other aspects and features of non-limiting embodiments of thepresent invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art uponreview of the following description of specific non-limiting embodimentsof the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, the drawings show aspectsof one or more embodiments of the invention. However, it should beunderstood that the present invention is not limited to the precisearrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary system in anembodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary navigable space;

FIGS. 3A-B are schematic diagrams illustrating an exemplary embodimentof an assembly for combined tactile and wireless guidance;

FIGS. 4A-C are schematic depictions of an exemplary embodiment of awayfinding aid with incorporated receiver;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrated an exemplary method of navigationand usage guidance;

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrated an exemplary method of installing asystem for navigation and usage guidance in a navigable space;

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrated an exemplary method of calibrationof transmitter-provided location;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system forusage guidance using wireless communication;

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method of usage guidance usingwireless communication;

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method of usage guidance usingwireless communication; and

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a computing system that can be used toimplement any one or more of the methodologies disclosed herein and anyone or more portions thereof.

The drawings are not necessarily to scale and may be illustrated byphantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. Incertain instances, details that are not necessary for an understandingof the embodiments or that render other details difficult to perceivemay have been omitted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

At a high level, aspects of the present disclosure are directed todevices, systems, and methods that utilize localized wirelesscommunication to provide a visually impaired person with information heor she can use to utilize a user feature, such as an ATM or bathroomstall, or to navigate an unfamiliar space, efficiently, and withdignity. Information indicating location of items of interest orobstacles within the environment is conveyed to the user in anaccessible way, giving the user an effective map of an otherwiseunfamiliar space. Instructions concerning the use of features aid theuser to avoid trial and error when engaging with the features, andinformation indicating whether features are currently in use permits theuser to select unoccupied features without resorting to inquiries.Sighted users may also use some embodiments to aid in wayfinding aswell, for instance for finding items or information about items in aretail store, or for understanding or translating information on a signwritten in a foreign language.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of adevice 100 for navigation and usage guidance in a navigable space usingwireless communication is illustrated. Device 100 is on the person ofthe user. In some embodiments, device 100 is on the person of the userif the user is carrying the receiver with the user. For example, andwithout limitation, device 100 may be on the person of the user ifdevice 100 is in a pocket of the user's clothing, in a pocket orcompartment of a portable container such as a backpack, satchel,briefcase, pocketbook, or the like, in a holster, in a harness, in amoney belt, in a belt clip, or incorporated in a wayfinding aid, forinstance as set forth in further detail below.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 1, device 100 includes a wireless receiver104. Wireless receiver 104 may have an antenna 108. Wireless receiver104 may include a wireless interrogator; in other words, the antenna 108may be capable of inducing a current in an antenna of a passivetransmitter through magnetic coupling, capacitive coupling, or othermeans. Wireless receiver 104 may be able to receive the signaltransmitted by at least one first transmitter 128 using the antenna 108.In some embodiments, the wireless receiver 104 can transmit as well asreceive signals. Wireless receiver 104 may include a transceiver 112,which both sends and receives signals; the transceiver 112 may be asystem on a chip, including processing, memory, or any other functionstogether in a single integrated circuit. Transceiver 112 may exchangesignals according to existing protocols, such as the BLUETOOTH protocolpromulgated by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. of Kirkland, Wash. Transceiver 112may further implement a “beacon” protocol; as a non-limiting example,the beacon protocol may be implemented using the IBEACON protocolproduced by Apple, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif., the EDDYSTONE protocolproduced by Google, Inc. of Mountain View, Calif., or a similarprotocol. Antenna 108 may include a plurality of antennas; for example,and without limitation, antenna 108 may include a first antenna thattransmits interrogation signal, and a second antenna that receivesreturn signal. Antenna 108 may include multiple antennas that receiveand/or transmit signals; for instance, antenna 108 may include antennasfacing in various directions for transmitting interrogation signals andreceiving return signals to and from various directions simultaneously.Similarly, wireless receiver 104 may include both an antenna 108 forreceiving from and/or transmitting signals to a transmitter and atransceiver 112 that may be used for communicating with a mobilecomputing device, for instance as described below. Wireless receiver mayinclude any device capable of or configured to receive any signal in theform of electromagnetic radiation, including without limitation visiblespectrum light, infrared light, radio waves, or signals in any otherportion of the electromagnetic spectrum, capacitive or magneticinductance, or any other form of wireless communication that may beestablished between two electronic devices or components.

Still referring to FIG. 1, wireless receiver 104 includes a drivercircuit driver circuit 112. Driver circuit 112 is an electric circuit,electrically coupled to antenna 108, that processes electric signalsinduced in antenna 112 by wireless signals, and processes the electricsignals. In other words, driver circuit 112 may be any electricalcircuit configured to wirelessly receive a signal from a transmitter, asdescribed in further detail below, via antenna 108. Where wirelessreceiver 104 includes a wireless interrogator, driver circuit 112 mayfurther be configured to wirelessly transmit an interrogation signal viathe antenna to a passive transponder; the interrogation signal mayprovide electrical power to the passive transponder. Driver circuit 112may further be configured to wirelessly receive a return signal from thetransponder via the antenna.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, driver circuit 112 may includeanalog components, digital components, or both. For instance, drivercircuit 112 may include one or more filters (not shown), such as aButterworth filter, a Chebyshev filter, a band filter, or the like, tofilter out noise or selectively receive particular frequencies or rangesof frequencies. Driver circuit 112 may include one or more amplifiers.Driver circuit 112 may include a logic circuit, or a circuit-includingat least one digital circuit element. Logic circuit may be hardwired;for instance, logic circuit may include logic hardware circuitcomponents such as logic gates, multiplexors, demultiplexors,programmable circuits such as field-programmable arrays, read-onlymemory, and the like. Logic circuit may include memory, which may be anymemory as described below in reference to FIG. 11. Logic circuit mayinclude a computing device as described below in reference to FIG. 11.In some embodiments, the wireless receiver 104 includes a computingdevice 120; the computing device 120 may be any computing device asdescribed below in reference to FIG. 11. As a non-limiting example, thewireless receiver 104 may be a mobile computing device such as a mobilephone, “smartphone,” or tablet; wireless receiver 104 may beincorporated in a mobile computing device. Wireless receiver 104 may beincorporated in a special-purpose device, such as handheld device ordevice mounted on a finding aid that, as a non-limiting example, iswirelessly or otherwise coupled to a mobile or portable computingdevice. Computing device 120 may be a microcontroller.

Still referring to FIG. 1, wireless receiver 104 may include a powersource 124. Power source 124 may include a power storage device; thepower storage device may include a battery. Power storage device mayinclude a capacitor; for instance, the power storage device may includean ultra-capacitor. Power storage device may include a magnetic powerstorage device; such as a device that incorporates an inductor. In someembodiments, power source 124 includes a photovoltaic device; thephotovoltaic device may be any device that converts light to electricpower. Power source 124 may include power provided by an electricalnetwork, for example including electric power accessed via a wall-plug;the electrical power may be alternating current “mains” power, or powergenerated by solar panels, wind turbines. Wireless receiver 104 maycharge wirelessly; for instance, the wireless receiver 104 may chargeinductively. Wireless receiver 104 may include an inertial power sourcethat generates mechanical or electrical power from movement of wirelessreceiver 104, including without limitation an inertial power source thatgenerates power from walking or swinging a cane on which inertial powersource is mounted.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, wireless receiver 104 is configuredto receive a signal from at least one first transmitter 128. In someembodiments, where at least one first transmitter 128 includes a passivetransmitter as described in further detail below, wireless receiver 104may receive the signal by producing an interrogation signal using aninterrogator, and receiving the signal generated by the passivetransmitter in return. In other embodiments, where at least one firsttransmitter 128 includes an active transmitter as set forth in furtherdetail below, wireless receiver 104 listens for the transmissionfrequency of at least one first transmitter 128 and inputs the signalupon receiving the signal output by at least one first transmitter 128.Wireless receiver 104 may exchange signals with at least one firsttransmitter 128; for instance, wireless receiver 104 may transmit aquery to at least one first transmitter 128 and receive data in responseto the query. Wireless receiver 104 may similarly receive a signal froma second transmitter or from additional transmitters situated in anavigable space, as described in further detail below. Wireless receiver104 may be configured to receive content data from at least one firsttransmitter 128 or a second transmitter. Wireless receiver 104 may beconfigured to receive product data from at least one first transmitter128 or a second transmitter.

Alternatively, or additionally, and still referring to FIG. 1, wirelessreceiver 104 may have a code reader. In some embodiments, a code readermay be any device capable of reading a visual code such as a UPClaser-scanned code or a quick read (“QR”) code. In some embodiments, thecode reader is a laser scanner. In other embodiments, the code reader isan optical device such as a camera; for instance, where wirelessreceiver 104 is a mobile device such as a mobile phone or tablet, or iscoupled to such a device, the code reader may be the camera of themobile device. The mobile device may be configured to input a QR or UPCcode using the camera and then extract the data contained in the codeusing software. In any embodiment of methods, systems, and/or devicesdescribed herein in which wireless receiver 104 receives a return signalincluding a unique identifier and processes that return signal, wirelessreceiver 104 may similarly obtain the unique identifier by way of a codereader, and process the unique identifier in a like manner.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, at least one first transmitter 128may be any device that outputs a signal using electromagnetic radiation;the signal may be sent using any frequency usable in communication,including without limitation radio waves, micro waves, infrared waves,and visible light. At least one first transmitter 128 may include anantenna 132. At least one first transmitter 128 may include a passivetransmitter, such as those used for passive radio frequencyidentification (“RFID”) or near field communication (“NFC”) tags. Insome embodiments, passive transmitter includes an antenna 132 in whichelectric current is induced by magnetic coupling from an antenna, suchas antenna 108 of wireless receiver 104; the induced electric currentmay power the passive transmitter, which may use additional circuitrysuch as a logic circuit 136 to analyze the signal and generate aresponse signal. Logic circuit 136 may be any logic circuit as describedabove regarding driver circuit 116.

Still referring to FIG. 1, response signal may be output by the sameantenna 132. The response signal may be output by an additional antenna;in other words, as described above for wireless transmitter 104, antenna132 may include multiple antennas. In some embodiments, the passivetransmitter has a plurality of antennas to enable the transmitter tocapture the signal optimally from a plurality of angles. The signal fromthe interrogator may contain no information, functioning solely toactivate the passive transmitter. In other embodiments, the signal fromthe interrogator contains information that circuitry in the passivetransmitter processes.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 1, at least a transmitter 128 may include anactive transmitter. Active transmitter may be a transmitter having apower source 140 other than an interrogation signal; power source 140may be any power source 124 as described above. Active transmitter mayuse the antenna 132 to broadcast a signal periodically. Activetransmitter may use the antenna 132 to listen for incoming signals, andtransmit in response to a detected signal. Active transmitter mayperform both actions; for instance, active transmitter may periodicallytransmit a first signal, and also transmit one or more second signals inresponse to signals at least a transmitter 128 receives. At least atransmitter 128 may include a transceiver 144, which may be anytransceiver 112 as described above. At least a transmitter 128 mayinclude a beacon using any beacon protocol as described above.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, at least a transmitter 128 mayinclude one or more sensors; for instance, at least a transmitter 128may include a user presence sensor 148, which may be a sensor thatdetects when a user is in a particular location, such as within a anavigable space, within a particular portion of a navigable space, at auser feature, or using a user feature, for instance as described infurther detail below. User presence sensor 148 may be a motion sensorthat detects the movement of a person in a particular location. Userpresence sensor 148 may be heat sensor that detects the body heat of aperson in a particular location. User presence sensor 148 may be afield-interruption sensor that combines an emitter of radiation such asinfra-red radiation with a sensor capable of detecting the emittedinformation; as a result, when a person is in a particular location, theemitted radiation may be blocked, causing the sensor to detect a changeor cessation in detected radiation, indicating that a person is present.The user presence sensor 148 may function similarly to the user presencesensor used in automatically flushing toilets or urinals, in automaticfaucets, and the like.

Still referring to FIG. 1, at least a transmitter 128 may include amemory 152. Memory 152 may be any memory as described below in referenceto FIG. 11. In some embodiments, memory 152 is read-only. In otherembodiments, memory 152 may be writable. The writable memory may requireauthentication; for instance, the writable memory may be writable onlygiven a password, identifier, key, or other data indicating that thedevice that will be modifying the memory is authorized. Memory 152 mayinclude any combination of the above; for instance, memory 152 mayinclude a read-only section 152 a. Memory 152 may include a writablesection 152 b with limited access. Memory 152 may include a writablesection 152 c with general access, to which any user may be able towrite data. Memory 152 may include the read-only 152 a section and thegenerally writable section 152 c, or the limited access writable section152 b and the generally writable section 152 c, or the read-only section152 a and the limited access section 152 b. The limited access sectionmay be limited to users of the system 100, or in other words may begenerally writable, but only to users of the system 100, who may havethe requisite access codes as a result of joining the system 100 asusers; the users may alternatively be granted the access codes by thesystem 100 to update information on at least a transmitter 128 only whenauthorized by the system, and otherwise be unable to update the memory;in this way, the system 100 may be able to update information on atleast a transmitter 128 memory 152 efficiently by way of the receiverwhile maintaining security against misuse of the memory. In someembodiments, preventing users from being able to write over memory 152enables the memory to be free from intentional or unintentionalcorruption or inaccuracy, and enables the system 100 to ensure thatcertain information is always available to users of at least atransmitter 128. In some embodiments, writable sections 152 b-c enablethe system 100 itself or users of the system 100 to correct, augment, orupdate information as described in further detail below.

Referring now to FIG. 2, an exemplary embodiment of a navigable space200 illustrated. At least one first transmitter 128 may be located at alocation 204 a-c in a navigable space 200. Navigable space 200 may beany space a user may wish to negotiate, including any outdoor or indoorspace. Navigable space 200 may include without limitation a corridor, aroom, an interior or exterior retail space, a restaurant dining area, arestroom, a trail, a parking lot, a road, a sidewalk, a park, or avehicle such as a bus, train, aircraft, boat, ship, space vehicle, orspace station. A navigable space 200 may contain other navigable spaces;as a non-limiting example, first navigable space may be a restaurant,within which a bathroom may be a second navigable space and a diningarea may be a third navigable space. Further continuing the example, atoilet stall within the bathroom may be a fourth navigable space.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 2, navigable space 200 may containarchitectural features 208, which may be features of the construction ofnavigable space 200 that serve purposes not directly related to userinteraction, such as baseboards, walls, ceilings, molding, floors, floortiles, and the like. Navigable space 200 may contain at least a userfeature 212, which may be at least an object located in navigable space200 for the purpose of user interaction; for instance, user features 212may include without limitation sinks, toilets, toilet stalls, urinals,paper towel dispensers, hand driers, trash cans, automatic tellerdispensers, doors, elevators, vending machines, fountain drinkdispensers, ticket taking/dispensing devices, salad bars, or any otheritems a user would expect to interact with when using navigable space200. A user feature 212 may include a free-standing device.

Still referring to FIG. 2, location 204 a-c may include a location in oron an architectural feature 208 of navigable space 200; for instance, atleast one first transmitter 128 may have a location 204 a in a baseboardwithin a room, for instance as shown in FIG. 2. At least one firsttransmitter 128 may have a location 204 a within molding. At least onefirst transmitter 128 may have a location within a wall, or within arecess in the surface of a wall. At least one first transmitter 128 mayhave a location mounted on a wall; for instance, location 204 a-c may bea wall-mounting 204 b, such as a wall-mounted box or sign (e.g., abuilding directory or an Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) sign),for instance as described in further detail below. Location 204 a-c maybe adjacent to a user feature 212. For instance, location 204 b may belocated adjacent to a sink. In some embodiments, location near to a userfeature 212 allows the user or the system 100 to determine location ofthe user feature 212. In some embodiments, location 204 a-c is alocation 204 c at a user feature 212 of navigable space 200; forinstance, at least one first transmitter 128 may be attached to the userfeature 212. At least one first transmitter 128 may be incorporated inthe user feature 212.

With continued reference to FIG. 2, location 204 a-c may be fixed. Alocation may be fixed if it does not change position during typical useof navigable space 200. For instance, if location is within a fixture innavigable space 200, location may be unlikely to change position.Likewise, if location 204 a-c is incorporated or attached to a trashcan, although the trash can may be moveable, it may be likely to remainin more or less the same part of a room during typical use; forinstance, the trash can in some bathrooms is more or less invariablylocated beneath or beside a paper-towel dispenser. Further examples offixed locations include, without limitation, a baseboard at a wallcorner such as a corner at intersecting corridors, the front or bottomedge of a countertop such as the front or bottom edge of a countertop infront of a user feature, on a wall at the end of a countertop, on theface of or underneath a countertop at a sink, at the back of a stall atdoor or eye level, at the back of a stall door away from the toilet, andthe bottom corner of a door (for instance at the strike or handle side);the door used for location 204 a-c may be an entrance or exit door. Insome embodiments, where location 204 a-c is fixed, the position of thefixed location 204 a-c within navigable space 200 may be used todetermine the position, orientation, or both of the user withinnavigable space 200, as set forth in further detail below.

Still referring to FIG. 2, at least one first transmitter 128 mayalternatively or additionally be located in a non-fixed location. Thenon-fixed location may be a location that is not necessarily predictableor affixed to a feature of navigable space 200; the non-fixed locationmay nevertheless be likely to be within navigable space 200. Forinstance, the non-fixed location may be in a trash can, a recycled paperor aluminum container, on a menu, or on a mop or other piece ofequipment intended for use in navigable space 200.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 2, at least a transmitter 128 maycommunicate with at least a user feature 212. For instance, at least atransmitter 128 may be wired to a circuit in the user feature 212, suchas a circuit containing a user presence sensor 148; as a non-limitingexample, at least a transmitter 128 may be connected to a user presencesensor 148 incorporated in an automatically flushing toilet or urinal;and may receive a signal when the user presence sensor 148 detects auser is using the toilet or urinal. In other embodiments, at least onefirst transmitter 128 communicates wirelessly with a circuit in the userfeature 215; for instance, at least one first transmitter 128 mayreceive a signal via the antenna 132 from the user feature. Furtherexamples of interaction between at least a transmitter and at least auser feature are described below.

In some embodiments, the system 100 includes a surface feature 216indicating location 204 a of at least one first transmitter 128. Thesurface feature 216 may be a projection such as a “bump”. The surfacefeature 216 may be an indentation. The surface feature 216 may include asign such as an ADA sign or building directory. The surface feature 216may be a region of the surface having a different texture from thesurrounding surface. As a non-limiting example, where the at least oneat least a transmitter 128 is located in a baseboard, the surfacefeature 216 may be a projection or indentation that a user is able todetect with the tip of a white cane as described in further detailbelow; in some embodiments, where wireless receiver 104 is only able todetect at least one first transmitter 128 at short range, the user maylocate the surface feature to place the receiver in communication withat least one first transmitter 128.

In other embodiments, a surface feature 216 may be positioned or formedto be readily located using a user's hand. For instance, the surfacefeature 216 may be located on a countertop, sign, or other item locatedwithin the reach of a user during navigation or use of navigable space200. The surface feature 216 may have a specific shape, such as a raised3-dimensional product logo or the like to identify location of thetransmitter and distinguish it from other random “bumps”. The surfacefeature 216 may also have a form recognizable to the user, such as amessage in braille or a “bump dot” such as those often used by visuallyimpaired persons to mark locations of important items.

Location 204 a-c may alternatively be located at a consistent orpredictable spot within navigable space 200, such as at a corner, at adoorjamb on a particular side of a door, or on a sign; location 204 a-cmay be at a consistent location within a sign such as the top center orthe right end of a line of braille. Thus, a user utilizing the system100 may locate at least a transmitter 128 by searching for either asurface feature 216 or for a known or predictable location withinnavigable space 200. This may aid the user or the system 100 or both infinding location and orientation of the user within navigable space 200.

Referring now to FIGS. 3A-B, at least a first transmitter 128 may beincorporated in an assembly 300 for navigation and usage guidance in anavigable space using hybrid tactile and electronic guidance means.Assembly 300 may include a first informational object 304 installed at afixed location in navigable space 200. First informational object 308may include a sign, which may be an ADA sign. First informational object308 may have any other three-dimensional form conducive to its use asdescribed below, including a box, a pole, a projection from a wall, adoor, or another architectural feature, or a portion of an architecturalfeature. First informational object 304 may be mounted to a verticalsurface of an architectural feature. First informational object mayinclude an obverse 308. Obverse 308 may include one or more surfacesaccessible to the user; as a non-limiting example, where firstinformational object 304 includes a sign, obverse 308 may include asurface of the sign that bears indicia such as writing, braille, ortactile elements.

Still referring to FIGS. 3A-B, first informational object 304 mayinclude a first touch-discernable feature 312 identifying the firstinformational object. Where first informational object 304 has anexterior edge, first touch-discernable feature 312 may include atouch-discernable feature of the exterior edge. A touch-discernablefeature, as defined herein, may include any feature distinguishable froma surrounding substrate. A touch-discernable feature may include atexture that distinguishes the symbols from a surrounding substrate,such as a ridged, knurled, or otherwise rough texture on a smoothsubstrate, or a smooth texture on an otherwise rough substrate. Atouch-discernable feature may have a different coefficient of staticfriction from the surrounding substrate. A touch-discernable feature mayhave a different coefficient of dynamic friction from the surroundingsubstrate. A touch-discernable feature may have different thermalproperties from the surrounding substrate; for instance, either symbolor both symbols may conduct heat more or less readily than thesubstrate, allowing a user to detect the boundaries of the symbol bydetecting apparently contrasting temperatures. A touch-discernablefeature may have different electrical properties from the surroundingsubstrate. A touch-discernable feature may include a three-dimensionalform, such as a relief, textured, or recessed form, or any combinationthereof. First touch-discernable feature 312 may be an outer perimeterof a sign, from which it is possible to determine that the sign is asign; outer perimeter may have a distinctive shape, or include one ormore distinctive shapes, indicating to a user that it is a sign and/orthat it is first informational object 308. First touch-discernablefeature 312 may include a touch-discernable feature located on theobverse 304; for instance, first touch-discernable feature 312 mayinclude a three-dimensional form located on the obverse. Firsttouch-discernable feature 312 may include braille.

Continuing to refer to FIGS. 3A-B, assembly 300 may include a secondtouch-discernable feature 316 identifying a particular location 320. Inan embodiment, second touch-discernable feature 316 is included in or onfirst informational object 304; particular location 320 may be alocation on the obverse. Alternatively, first touch-discernable feature312 may be located near to second touch-discernable feature 316 in amanner permitting detection of the former to aid in locating the latter;for instance, first touch-discernable feature 312 may be a baseboardmarker as described above, with second touch-discernable featurelocated, for instance, vertically above baseboard marker at a heightconvenient for manual discovery. Alternatively or additionally, secondtouch-discernable feature 312 may be located in a particular locationrelative to an architectural feature such as a doorway, doorjamb,countertop, or the like. Second touch-discernable feature 316 mayinclude any touch discernable feature suitable for use as firsttouch-discernable feature 312; in an embodiment, secondtouch-discernable feature may be distinct from first touch-discernablefeature 312. First touch-discernable feature 316 may include atouch-discernable feature 324 adjacent to particular location 320. Forinstance, particular location 320 may be adjacent to a particular point328 along an exterior edge of first informational object 304; secondtouch-discernable feature 316 may include a touch-discernable feature324 of the exterior edge at the particular point 324 along the exterioredge. Alternatively or additionally, second touch-discernable feature316 may include a touch-discernable feature 332 at the particularlocation; for instance, second touch-discernable feature may include athree-dimensional form 332 attached to the obverse at the particularlocation.

With continued reference to FIGS. 3A-B, and as shown in the partialcutaway in FIG. 3B, at least a first transmitter 128 may be embedded inthe first informational object 304 at the particular location 320. Whereat least a first transmitter 128 is a passive transmitter as describedabove, it may be possible to interrogate at least a first transmitter128 only with an interrogator in close proximity to at least a firsttransmitter 128; the presence of second touch-discernable feature 316may therefore enable a user, even a user who is blind or visuallyimpaired, to locate at least a first transmitter 128 on firstinformational object 304, and interrogate first transmitter 128 This inturn may have the advantage of saving on power and maintenance: at leasta first transmitter 128, being passive, may consume no power ordinarily,and may function for years without any maintenance whatsoever, whileinterrogators, such as wireless receiver 104, may require little powerto induce current and produce return signal, owing to their use in closeproximity with at least a first transmitter 128.

Still referring to FIGS. 3A-B, first informational object may include athird touch-discernable feature 336. Third touch-discernable feature 336may have any form suitable for use as first touch-discernable feature312 or second touch-discernable feature 316. Third touch-discernablefeature 316 may identify navigable space 200; for instance, thirdtouch-discernable feature 336 may include a symbol or set of symbolsidentifying the navigable space 200. Third touch-discernable feature 336may identify at least a user feature within navigable space 200. Thirdtouch-discernable feature 336 may include a tactile map of navigablespace 200; tactile map may identify architectural and/or user features.Tactile map may identify locations of other assemblies, as describedherein for assembly 300, within navigable space 200. Tactile map mayidentify locations of other transmitters within navigable space 200,which may have any form suitable for at least a first transmitter 128,and may be incorporated in navigable space 200 in any manner suitablefor incorporation therein of at least a first transmitter 128.

Referring again to FIG. 1, at least one first transmitter 128 isconfigured to transmit a signal. Signal may be a return signal inresponse to a prompt by another wireless communication device, includingwithout limitation wireless receiver 104. Signal may be a return signalin response to interrogation by an interrogator included in anotherwireless communication device, including without limitation wirelessreceiver 104. Signal may be any wirelessly transmitted signal, includingwithout limitation any signal transmitted through electromagneticradiation, magnetic coupling, capacitive or other electronic coupling,or any other wireless means. Signal may include a unique identifier;unique identifier may identifier at least a first transmitter 128, afeature, including without limitation a user feature as defined below,adjacent to or attached to at least a first transmitter 128, or afeature, including without limitation a user feature, otherwiseassociated with at least a first transmitter 128. As a non-limitingexample, at least a first transmitter 128 may include a set oftransmitters adjacent to or attached to a user feature, defining a pathto a user feature through a navigable space 200 as defined in furtherdetail below, or the like, and all sharing the same unique identifierthat is unique to the user feature; alternatively, each transmitter ofat least a first transmitter 128 may have a unique identifier of itsown. Unique identifier may take the form of any identifier that uniquelycorresponds to at least one first transmitter 128 for the purposes ofthe system 100; this may be accomplished using methods including but notlimited to Globally Unique Identifiers (GUIDs), Universally UniqueIdentifiers (UUIDs), or by maintaining a data structure, table, ordatabase listing all transmitter identifiers and checking the datastructure, table listing, or database to ensure that a new identifier isnot a duplicate.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, signal may include other data inaddition to unique identifier. For instance; and without limitation, atleast one first transmitter 128 may be configured to transmit one ormore elements of wayfinding data. In some embodiments, wayfinding datais any data that can be used by a user to navigate or use navigablespace 200 as defined, in further detail below, or to navigate betweennavigable spaces. Wayfinding data may include any data that aids a userin the use, identification, or understanding of items within navigablespace 200. Wayfinding data may include any information needed tonavigate through navigable space 200. For instance, wayfinding data mayidentify landmarks that a visually impaired person is able identify, andprovide information about location of those landmarks. Wayfinding datamay include tactile architectural features, sounds, or smells that mayaid a user in orienting or locating him or herself within navigablespace 200 or between navigable spaces. Wayfinding data may includepoints along paths the user may be following to arrive at an intendedspot; the data may include vectors or other information indicating tothe user which direction to move in for a given purpose along a path atthe path point.

Still viewing FIG. 1, wayfinding data may include feature data. Featuredata may be data describing a feature, such as an architectural featureor a user feature as defined in further detail below. Feature data mayinclude the height location of features; in other words, wayfinding datamay indicate the vertical position of features or portions thereof.Wayfinding data may include the orientation of features. Feature datamay include user feature data. User feature data is defined herein asany data describing user feature 212 or portions or contents thereof.User feature data may include operational data, defined herein asinformation required to complete operation of a user feature 212.Operational data may include location relative to the user or to a pointin navigable space 200 at which the operation may be instigated orperformed; for instance, wayfinding data may indicate to the user whereto stand when using a sink, and where to reach to activate the sink'sfaucet. Operational data may indicate the orientation of a feature; forexample, the wayfinding data may indicate which way the user interfaceof an ATM is facing. Operational data may include information aboutparticular components of a user feature 212, such as the buttons on anATM or the faucet and soap dispensers on a sink. Operational data mayprovide information concerning how to operate an item such as a vendingmachine. Operational data may include information needed to instigatethe operation of a user feature, such as a method to follow to instigateoperation; for instance, the operational data may indicate how to turnon a sink faucet so the water will flow. Thus, for example, where theuser feature 212 is a sink, the wayfinding information may describe thedevice that controls the faucet, and how to operate that device; thus,for instance, a user may arrive at the sink knowing that water flowsautomatically if the user's hand is in front of it, or knowing that theuser must twist, press, or pull a control to open the faucet. Useinformation may describe location of a soap dispenser, and the mechanismthat causes the soap to dispense soap. Likewise, the use information maydescribe how to flush a toilet or urinal, and location of toilet paperrelative to location of a toilet.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, user feature data may include afeature type; for instance, the user feature data may indicate whether aparticular feature is a urinal, toilet, vending machine, elevator, orthe like. User feature-data may indicate the number of user features ofa given type. User feature data may include state information concerningat least one feature of the navigable space. State information may beinformation that describes the current state of a user feature 212. Thestate information may describe whether the feature is occupied, forinstance as detected by a user presence sensor 148. State informationmay indicate whether the user feature 212 is functioning. Stateinformation may indicate whether the user feature 212 is off or on; forinstance, state information may indicate if water is flowing from afaucet, or a toilet has just been flushed. User feature data may includesafety information, which may be any information related to the featureconcerning matters that could affect user safety or security. As anon-limiting example, safety information may include informationindicating that a microwave or stove is in use, that the floor is or maybe wet, that a surface is slippery or presents a tripping hazard, thatthere is high voltage at or near the user feature 212, that there arecurrently moving vehicles nearby, or that a travel location for movingvehicles is nearby, and the like. Safety information may indicate theorientation relative to user feature 212 of hazards. Safety informationmay include instructions for avoiding hazards while using user feature212. Safety information may overlap with state information; for example,whether a walk light is on or whether a stove or microwave oven iscurrently operational may be both state information and safetyinformation. User feature data may include content data. Content datamay be information indicating contents or components of user feature212, such as ingredients of edible contents of a container or dispenserof food or drink, money contained in an ATM, and the like.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 1, wayfinding data may include the spacetype of navigable space 200; in other words, wayfinding data mayindicate whether navigable space 200 is a restroom, elevator lobby, orother type of space. Wayfinding data may include space entry or exitlocations, numbers and types; types may include, for instance, whetherthe exit or entrance is handicap accessible, whether it is a front door,and the like. Wayfinding data may indicate whether the transmitter is ona fixed or non-fixed item. Wayfinding data may indicate specialnavigational data concerning a particular item, such as whether anelevator is an express elevator that only goes to upper floors, orwhether an escalator is currently running upward or downward. Wayfindingdata may include information about the numbering or order of rooms orother spaces or features; for instance, wayfinding information mayindicate whether to the left of the room in which the user is currentlylocated are higher or lower number rooms. Wayfinding data may provideinformation concerning occupants and room numbers as presented in anoffice directory in a building lobby.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, at least a transmitter 128 mayinclude other data in addition to wayfinding data. For instance, atleast a transmitter 128 may include content data, which may be dataindicating the contents of an item located at or near a feature. In someinstances, as an example, the content data may indicate which sodas aredispensed by which specific soda dispensers at a fountain drink station.Content data may likewise identify item locations of containers at acondiment, salad bar or flatware station. Content data may identify thecontents of fixed or non-fixed containers such as ketchup, mustard,mayo, or sauce dispensers or salt or pepper shakers. Similarly, contentdata may include data describing the contents of medicine bottles,rotating fork, spoon, knife dispensers, soap or hand sanitizer whetherfixed or non-fixed), and any other item whose contents are not readilyascertainable from its outward appearance or shape.

Still referring to FIG. 1, other data that at least a transmitter 128may include besides wayfinding data may be product data. Product datamay include the identification of one or more products. Product data mayinclude location of one or more products; for instance product data mayinclude planogram data indicating the layout of products in a store orthe like. Product information may also include ingredients of a product,including allergens and nutritional information. As a non-limitingexample, product data may be UPC or SKU data.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 1, or instance, where navigable space 200 isa public restroom, wayfinding data may include information allowing theuser to walk through the restroom. Wayfinding data may includeinformation allowing the user to locate sinks, toilet or urinal stalls,paper towels or hand driers, or trashcans. Wayfinding data may includeinformation allowing the user to use toilets, urinals, sinks, soapdispensers, paper towel dispensers, hand driers, or trash cans. Thewayfinding data may include the identity of at least one firsttransmitter 128. The wayfinding data may include location 204 a-c. Thewayfinding data may include a location of at least one feature ofnavigable space 200; the feature may include an architectural feature208. The feature may include a user feature 212. As a non-limitingexample, the feature may include an obstacle that the user must navigatearound. The feature may include an item the user could use while innavigable space 200, such as a sink or toilet. The feature may includeboth an obstacle and a feature the user might use; for instance locationof a trash can that is between the user and a sink. In some embodiments,location of the feature includes a distance froth the transmitter to thefeature. In some embodiments, location of the feature includes an anglefrom a reference point, such as the wall, corresponding to the directionin which the feature may include located. In other embodiments, locationof the feature is a location on a virtual map of navigable space 200 asdescribed in further detail below in reference to FIGS. 5A-B.

Still referring to FIG. 1, wayfinding data may be organized according toone or more data structures; a data structure for this purpose is astandardized ordering of data according to particular categories. Thisordering of data may be accomplished by any suitable means, including byorganization within relational databases, organization using objectoriented programming, organization into particular files, tables, orother data stores, and the like. For instance, wayfinding data used bythe system 100 may include the identification of particular navigablespaces; the wayfinding data corresponding to each navigable space may beorganized together so that accessing the identity of a particularnavigable space enables the system 100 to retrieve information about thecontents, layout, and use of navigable space 200. As a non-limitingexample, each navigable space may correspond to an object or structurewithin object oriented programming, with the object contents organizedaccording to different elements of navigable space 200; thus,architectural features included in navigable space 200 may be includedin an element of the object corresponding to navigable space 200, andmay be organized according to any suitable organization style, includingin hierarchical or non-hierarchical data structures. Architecturalfeatures may be further organized into categories, such as walls, doors,toilet stalls, tables, and corridors. Continuing the example, userfeatures included in navigable space 200 may be similarly included inelements of the object corresponding to navigable space 200. Navigablespaces within navigable space 200 may have corresponding elements withinthe object pertaining to navigable space 200. Navigable spaces may, as anon-limiting example, be stored in a tree structure so that physicalnavigation of the spaces or plotting of paths traversing navigablespaces to nearby or included navigable spaces corresponds to thetraversal of the tree structure. Further discussion of data structuresand virtual maps that may be used with device 100 may be found below.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, data to be transmitted by at least afirst transmitter 128 may be stored on at least a first transmitter 128in any format conducive to its storage and transmission. Data may bestored in binary form; the binary storage may be any encoding ofinformation. Data may be organized into formats such as network packets,fixed-length strings, XML, or any other form. Persons skilled in theart, upon reading the entirety of this disclosure, will be aware of manydifferent ways in which data may be stored on at least a firsttransmitter 128 and/or device 100.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 1, there may be a second transmitter 156.Second transmitter 156 may be any transmitter suitable for use as atleast a first transmitter 128. Second transmitter 156 may be in alocation; location may be any location suitable for use as a location204 a-c as described above. In some embodiments, the wayfinding dataincludes location of second transmitter; location may be recorded asdescribed above in reference to location of a feature. Secondtransmitter 156 may be attached to a moveable item; for instance, secondtransmitter 156 may be attached to a container, such as a salt or peppershaker or a condiment container; second transmitter 156 may beconfigured to transmit content data concerning the contents of thecontainer, such as whether a shaker contains pepper or salt, or whatcondiment is inside of a condiment dispenser. Second transmitter 156 maybe a product identifying tag; that is, second transmitter may beattached to, adjacent to, or otherwise physically linked to a product.Second transmitter 156 may be configured to transmit product dataconcerning the product. For instance, second transmitter 156 maytransmit product identification according to a product classificationsystem, such as the universal product code (“UPC”) system. Secondtransmitter 156 may identify the product using a stock keeping unit(“SKU”) or similar identifier. In some embodiments, second transmitteris a third-party product capable of transmitting to wireless receiver104; in other words, the receiver may read or receive from a third-partytransmitter as described in further detail below. Third-partytransmitter may include, for instance, a beacon using any beaconprotocol as described above.

Still referring to FIG. 1, second transmitter 156 may be a transmitterin the possession of a particular user. For instance, second transmitter156 may be a transmitter the user can attach to an object of the user'schoice. In some embodiments, the transmitter in the possession of theuser is read-only, and transmits a particular identifier; the user mayconfigure wireless receiver 104 or a computing device in communicationwith wireless receiver 104 to associate the identifier with specificinformation concerning the object to which it is attached, or to alocation in which the transmitter in possession of the user is placed.Thus, the user may attach second transmitter 156 to a household oroffice item such as a refrigerator or computer that the user would liketo be able to locate or use, and enter data in the system 100 concerningthe household or office item. Second transmitter 156 may have writablememory, in which case the user may be able to enter information in thememory of the transmitter 156 concerning the object to which secondtransmitter 156 is attached or location in which second transmitter 156is placed.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, device 100 includes a portablecomputing device 160. Portable computing device 160 may be any computingdevice as described and defined below in reference to FIG. 11. Portablecomputing device 160 may be any computing device that may be carried onthe person of a user. Portable computing device 160 may include, withoutlimitation, a mobile device such as a mobile phone, smartphone, tablet,or personal digital assistant, or may be incorporated in aspecial-purpose device having features of device 100 as describedherein. Portable computing device 160 is coupled to wireless receiver104. Portable computing device may be electronically coupled to wirelessreceiver 104, and/or in wireless communication with wireless receiver104; portable computing device may perform wireless communication withwireless receiver 104 using any suitable protocol, including withoutlimitation BLUETOOTH protocols as described above.

Still referring to FIG. 1, portable computing device 160 may be designedand configured to parse the first signal for at least a textual element.At least a textual element may include any datum or data that may berendered as text, including without limitation numerical text, as anycharacter or string of characters in any written language, as anypunctuation, diacritical symbols, or other markings associated with anyform of written text, and the like. Textual data may include the uniqueidentifier.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 1, portable computing device 160 may beconfigured to identify, in a first data structure linking the uniqueidentifier to a map of navigable space 200, the first location and asecond location of a user feature. Map may be an electronic or virtualmap. Virtual map may contain the dimensions of the navigable space 200.Virtual map may contain location of at least one first transmitter 128within the navigable space 200. Virtual map may contain location of asecond transmitter 156 within the navigable space 200. Virtual map maycontain locations of architectural features 208 within the navigablespace. Virtual map may contain locations of user features 212 within thenavigable space.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, virtual map may include one or morecoordinate systems to aid in orientation and location detection androute calculation. The coordinate system may include a Global CoordinateSystem (GCS); in some embodiments, the GCS is a coordinate systemorienting and locating navigable spaces 200, users, and features to aglobal set of axes. The global axes may be directional axes used tonavigate the surface of the Earth, such as latitude and longitude. Forexample, a first global axis, which may be labeled the Y axis, may beoriented north-south, with north being the direction of the positive Yaxis and south the direction of the negative Y axis. Likewise, a secondaxis, which may be the X axis, may be oriented east-west, with east inthe direction of the positive X axis and west in the direction of thenegative X axis. Up and down may correspond to a third axis, which maybe the Z axis, with up positive for the Z axis and down negative for theZ axis.

Still referring to FIG. 1, in some embodiments, the coordinates includea User Coordinate System (UCS) for each navigable space 200. The UCS fora given navigable space 200 may have an origin point at a fixed locationwithin the navigable space 200; for instance the origin point may belocated at the strike or handle side of the entrance door of a room. TheUCS may have three axes that span three dimensions. As a non-limitingexample, a first axis, which may be the Y axis of the UCS, may beoriented in a first horizontal direction. In some embodiments, the firsthorizontal direction is a direction that is relatively simple todetermine from location of the origin and the physical characteristicsof the surrounding features; for instance, where the origin is locatedat a door in the navigable space 200 or at a wall of the navigable space200, the Y axis may be perpendicular to the door or wall. The directionalong the Y axis projecting into the navigable space 200 may bepositive. Further continuing the example, the UCS may include a secondaxis, which may be the X axis, in a second horizontal direction suchthat the Y and X axes together span the horizontal plane; the X axis maybe perpendicular to the Y axis. The X axis may be aligned in a directiondeterminable by the physical characteristics of the features near theorigin of the UCS; for instance, where the Y axis is perpendicular to awall or door, the X axis may be parallel to the wall or door. The UCSmay include a third axis, which may be the Z axis, such that the Y, X,and Z axes together span three dimensions; the Z axis may beperpendicular to the Y and X axes, and thus vertical. In someembodiments, up is in the positive direction on the Z axis. Each UCS mayhave a specific relationship to the GCS that can be transposed whenappropriate.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 1, in some embodiments, where one of atleast one first transmitter 128 has a fixed location, at least one firsttransmitter 128 with the fixed location has its own UCS. The transmitterlocation may be the UCS origin. The UCS axes may be selected asdescribed above. For instance, perpendicular to and into the face of the(wall mounted or feature mounted) fixed transmitter may be a positive Yaxis communicated to the user as “straight ahead”. A positive X axis maybe 90 degrees to the right of the Y axis and may be communicated to theuser as to the right. The transmitter UCS may have a specificrelationship to its parent UCS and thus to the GCS. In some embodiments,the communications to the user are for the user when facing thetransmitter (e.g., straight ahead, to the left, to the right turn aroundand proceed).

Still referring to FIG. 1, in some embodiments, the wayfinding data isstored using Building Information Modeling (BIM). In some embodiments,in a BIM, not only physical attributes such as location and size arestored, but any information about any feature (or space) is stored. BIMis a common term in the CAD world of the construction industry. As anon-limiting example, BIM data for a give user feature 212,architectural feature 208, or navigable space 200 may include the X andY coordinates in a UCS, as described above. In some embodiments, thisallows the calculation of distance to any other features UCS, even ifthat other feature is not in virtual map. The BIM data may include theX, Y, and Z orientation of the feature, with regard to the UCS, where Zdescribes the tilt of a feature. The BIM data may include a path treeconnecting the feature to one or more other features as described above.The BIM data may include attributes of the feature, including withoutlimitation the name and type of space (or subspace) in which the featureis located, the type of feature (e.g. toilet, sink, dryer, checkoutcounter, elevator), the operation (e.g. flush valve, nozzle, motionsensor, location of operation (e.g., top of countertop, wall, fixturemounted, free standing), Material covering surfaces (e.g. tile, carpet,stone, wood, or paint), color or distinguishing marks, or floors towhich an elevator will travel. Part or all of virtual map may be storedat portable computing device 160 or at a remote device; a relevantportion of virtual map may be downloaded as needed, and as furtherdescribed below in reference to FIG. 5.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, first data structure may include atable or similar structure linking unique identifier to a location invirtual map. First data structure may include a representation ofnavigable space. Representation of data in navigable space 200 mayitself include a plurality of data elements that define specific spaces;for instance, where the navigable space 200 is a restroom, the datarepresentation of that navigable space 200 may include the datarepresentation of a navigable space corresponding to a toilet stall,another corresponding to its a sink and its accessories, and anothercorresponding to a diaper changing station, all within the restroom; thenavigable space 200 data for the restroom may also include be linked tothe navigable space data for a second restroom, an elevator lobby, afront entry, and for the building containing the restroom. This may beaccessed by arrangement and traversal of a tree, or other data structureenabling recursive, linked; or serial enumeration of data structures, ofnavigable spaces, up to including buildings, blocks of buildings,campuses, or cities. In some embodiments, the data representation ofeach navigable space, whether it is a particular sink or toilet stall, arestroom, a building, or a city block, has a unique origin pointcorresponding to a specific location within the parent space of thenavigable space, where the parent space is a navigable space includingthe navigable space; for instance, the parent space of a toilet stallmay be a restroom, and the parent space of a restroom may be a building.As a result, if portable computing device 160 determines a user'scurrent location in any navigable space within any other parentnavigable space, specific information can be communicated to navigate toany other space within the parent navigable space, as all the originpoints are connected according to the data representations. Therepresentation of each navigable space may include an exit/entry pointcorresponding to a physical exit/entry point for the navigable space;for instance the exit/entry point may correspond to a door or to thepoint in front of a sink, urinal, ATM, or similar feature. Location of anavigable space's origin point or exit/entry point may be stored in thedata representation of the parent space, or in a tree structure one nodehigher in the tree structure. In some embodiments, the exit/entry pointof a given space must be traveled through physically to access datacorresponding to the space (upon entry) or data corresponding to parentor sibling spaces (upon exit).

Still referring to FIG. 1, in some embodiments, data representation ofeach navigable space includes path data. Path data may be stored as oneor more lists of specific points within a specific space; in someembodiments, the path data for a given point in the space includes alist of points that can be traveled to directly from each point whileavoiding all obstacles will also be stored and associated with eachpoint, where each point may correspond to a user feature 212,architectural feature 208, or navigable space within the navigable space200. Path data may be represented as a path vector that includes thedirection of travel to take along that path to get to the correspondingpoint, as determined from a particular orientation within the navigablespace 200. Path data may further include data concerning landmarks thata visually impaired person can identify, such tile, carper, column,smells, sounds, and similar matters, which may be linked to each pathpoint and vector. The combination of all such paths within the navigablespace 200 may be organized within a path tree of navigable vectorslinking all points within the navigable space 200. Each user and/orarchitectural feature may have a point or vector associated with it toconnect to the path tree and thus all other features within that space;this may be done for user features 212, architectural features 208, orboth.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 1, persons skilled in the art will be awarethat the elements described above may be organized in other manners thanin the object form described, as data may be organized in various waysdepending on the programming language, protocols, or storage methodsused, and other considerations; for instance, a relational database mayarrange the data corresponding to each navigable space 200 in any mannerusing interrelated tables according to the dictates of efficientinformation storage and retrieval. Furthermore, information may betransferred from one form to another as convenient to the operation ofthe system; for instance, a single node in a tree structurecorresponding to the navigable space 200 most immediately occupied bythe user may be stored in a at least a transmitter 128 within thatspace, or may be conveyed to the receiver over the network in networkpacket form. Furthermore, the data may of course be stored according toany registry or other memory storage protocol within particularcomputing devices. Part or all of first data structure may be stored atportable computing device 160 or at a remote device such as a server orthe like; a relevant portion of first data structure may be downloadedas needed, and as further described below in reference to FIG. 5.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, portable computing device 160 may beconfigured to retrieve, from a second data structure linking the featureto usage data for using the feature, the usage data. Second datastructure may include any data structure linking an identifier of a userfeature to usage data of the user feature, including without limitationa database table or other link. Part or all of second data structure maybe stored at portable computing device 160 or at a remote device; arelevant portion of second data structure may be downloaded as needed,and as further described below in reference to FIG. 5.

In some embodiments, and still referring to FIG. 1, portable computingdevice 160 and/or a remote device contains data corresponding to aparticular user. For instance, portable computing device 160 may haveaccess to data describing the user's specific needs regarding navigationor user feature usage processes. As a non-limiting example, where theuser has mobility issues, portable computing device 160 may have accessto data describing the user's mobility issues; this data may be used tofilter path information or usage sequences, as described in furtherdetail below, for paths and sequences suitable for the user's mobilityneeds. Further continuing the example, portable computing device 160 mayprovide the user with accessible paths, for instance avoiding stairs infavor of ramps or elevators; portable computing device may direct theuser to accessible features, such as toilets with support bars. In otherembodiments, portable computing device has access to data describing thedegree of the user's sensory impairment, if any; thus for example ifportable computing device has data indicating the user cannot see wellenough to read, portable computing device 160 will output information tothe user utilizing a non-visual user interface device.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 1, portable computing device may haveaccess, either locally or at a remote device, to a data structurelinking user activities to categories of user features. Data structurelinking user activities to categories of user features may include,without limitation, one or more database tables, a database, or anyother suitable data structure. As a non-limiting example, a useractivity may be stored in data structure as “use a urinal;” this may belinked in data structure to the categories “urinal,” “bathroom,” “sink,”“toilet,” “hand drier,” and/or “paper towel rack,” which may be userfeatures and/or navigational features a user would utilize in a usagesequence involving using a urinal. Other activities may be linked in thedata structure to other feature categories; as a result, portablecomputing device 160 may be able to retrieve a list of user featuresassociated with a desired user action, as described in further detailbelow.

In some embodiments, the device 100 includes data indicating the degreeto which a particular navigable space 200 uses the system includingtransmitters and devices such as device 100. For instance, a Level 0space may have no transmitters 128, a Level 1 location may only have thetransmitters installed in restrooms, a Level 2 location may haverestrooms and major passageways such as corridors and elevator lobbiesequipped with the system, and a Level 5 location may have every roomequipped with the transmitters. In some embodiments, this information isprovided to the user by portable computing device 160 using the userinterface. The information may also be published generally, for instancein a website or similar format.

Still referring to FIG. 1, device 100 includes a user output component164. User output component 164 may include a display 168; the display168 may be any display as described below in reference to FIG. 11. Thedisplay 168 may be the display of a mobile device such as a smartphoneor tablet. User output component 164 may include an audio output device172, such as a speaker, headphones, or a wireless headset such as thosetypically paired to a mobile device. User output component 164 mayinclude a tactile output device 176. In some embodiments, tactile outputdevice 176 is a device that outputs information that is intelligibleusing the sense of touch. Tactile output device 176 may include a hapticoutput device such as a vibrator of a mobile device such as asmartphone, cellular phone, or tablet. In some embodiments, tactileoutput device 176 produces patterns having geometric forms that areintelligible to the user using the sense of touch; for instance, tactileoutput device 176 may output letters in braille using a set ofretractable pins or bumps that can be extended and retracted to formbraille characters, similarly to devices used with screen readers.Tactile output device 176 may output other recognizable shapes, such asdirectional arrows or geometric forms; tactile output device 176 may, asanother example, output a map vignette of the immediate area includinguser features or any user feature data as described above. User outputcomponent 164 may be coupled to a mobile device; for instance, wheredevice 100 and/or portable computing device includes a mobile device,user output component 164 may be coupled to the same mobile device. Useroutput component 164 may be incorporated wholly or in part in a mobiledevice; for instance, user output component 164 may include the displayand speakers of the mobile device, as well as a tactile output devicecoupled to the mobile device. User output component 164 may be coupleddirectly to wireless receiver 104. User output component 164 isconfigured to receive data from portable computing device 160; data maybe received from portable computing device by any suitable electronic orwireless means. User output component 164 is configured to provide thereceived data to the user. In some embodiments, providing data signifiespresenting the data to the user in a form in which the user canunderstand the data; for instance, if the user has some visualimpairment but is capable of reading large type or similarly accentuateddirectional features such as large directional arrows, providing datamay include displaying large type on a display 168, such as a mobilephone or tablet screen, or displaying large symbols such as directionalarrows on the display 168. Similarly, if the user is visually impairedbut able to hear, providing data may involve presenting the data bymeans of an audio output device 172. Where the user is not able to seeor hear, presenting the wayfinding data may include providing data usinga tactile device 221. Providing data may also involve a combination ofthe above-described means; for instance, the wayfinding data may bepresented to the user in audio form, combined with large displays ofdirectional arrows or type, or with tactile information. User outputcomponent 164 may also be able to output content data. User outputcomponent 164 may also be able to output product data.

Device 100 may include additional components. For instance, device 100may include an inertial measurement unit (IMU) 180. IMU 180 may be anelectrical component that detects the motion of the wireless receiver104. IMU 180 may include, an accelerometer (not shown). IMU 180 mayinclude a plurality of accelerometers disposed to detect acceleration ina plurality of directions; for instance, three accelerometers disposedin three directions spanning three dimensions may be able to detectacceleration in any direction in three dimensions. IMU 180 may includeone or more gyroscopes. IMU 180 may include a plurality of gyroscopesdisposed to detect rotation about a plurality of axes; for instance,three accelerometers having axes spanning three dimensions may be ableto detect acceleration in any direction in three dimensions. IMU 180 mayhave both accelerometers and gyroscopes. IMU 180 may have any othercomponent or components capable of detecting linear or rotationalmotion. In some embodiments, IMU 180 can determine substantiallyprecisely the direction and magnitude of motion of the wireless receiver104 relative to an initial reference frame and location; where thewireless receiver 104 is initially stationary, IMU 180 may enable thewireless receiver 104 to determine substantially accurately any changein orientation or position of the receiver. In other embodiments thereceiver is coupled to an IMU 180; for instance, where the receiver iscoupled to a computing device 120 such as a smartphone or tablet, thecomputing device 120 may have an IMU.

Device 100 may include a navigation facility (not shown), defined as anyfacility coupled to the computing device that enables the deviceaccurately to calculate the device's location on the surface of theEarth. Navigation facilities may include a receiver configured tocommunicate with the Global Positioning System or with similar satellitenetworks, as well as any other system that mobile phones or otherdevices use to ascertain their location, for example by communicatingwith cell towers. Device 100 may use beacons for navigation, forinstance determining its location by direction and strength of one ormore beacon signals; directional information may be received as part ofbeacon signals. Beacons transmitting beacon signals may be calibrated bydevice 100, or by multiple such devices, as set forth in further detailbelow.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A-C, a non-limiting example of wireless receiver104 incorporated in a wayfinding aid is illustrated. Wireless receiver104 may be incorporated in or on a white cane 400. In some embodiments,a white cane 400 is an elongate object held in the hand of the user thatis used to gather information such as to search out the path in front ofthe user for obstacles and guides to travel; for instance, white cane400 may be used to feel for the wall of a corridor or room along whichthe user is travelling, to guide the user's path, or to feel for objectson the floor over which the user could trip. Wireless receiver 104 maybe housed in the tip 404 of white cane 400, as shown for instance inFIG. 4C. The tip 404 of white cane 400 may be detachable; many whitecanes have tips that may be incorporated in the canes using a hook thatattaches to an elastic cord within the cane, or a similar mechanism. Thetip 404 may therefore be manufactured with wireless receiver 104imbedded in the tip, and combined with any white cane 400 that admitsinterchangeable tips. Wireless receiver 164 may alternatively be locatedon a service animal; for instance, a service dog may have wirelessreceiver 104 on a bracelet near the animal's paw, which the dog can betrained to touch to a baseboard. Wireless receiver 104 may also bestored in an accessory on the person of the user, such as a ring,bracelet, necklace, or a prosthetic limb. Wireless receiver 104 may bestored in or on handle 408 of white cane 400. Wireless receiver 104 mayalso include one or more components to provide non-visual feedback tothe user, including but not limited to a vibrator in or on handle 408that vibrates to indicate reception of a signal from at least a firsttransmitter 128 and/or second transmitter 156. Wireless receiver 104 maybe holstered to an object such as a cane handle, permitting it to beused separately from the wayfinding aid as well as while attached.

Still viewing FIGS. 4A-C, in some embodiments, wireless receiver 104 inwhite cane 400 enables a user to place wireless receiver 104 in closeproximity to at least one first transmitter 128 when the user issearching out a path. For example, at least one first transmitter 128may be located in a feature of the navigable space 200, and a receiver204 in the tip 404 of the cane 405 may be brought into close proximitywith the feature. In some embodiments, the user searches out a surfacefeature 216 near to at least one first transmitter 128, feeling for thesurface feature 216 with the tip 404 of white cane 400. Transmitter 128may be in a standard location relative to feature 216 such as directlyabove at a standard height or location such as on an ADA sign or under acountertop; transmitter 128 may be discoverable with a first or secondtouch-discernable feature as described above. In other embodiments, theuser may find location by looking for a recognizable feature of thenavigable space 200, such as a corner, door jamb, or similar feature.Wireless receiver 104 in the white cane may be connected to a computingdevice; for instance, wireless receiver 104 may be wirelessly paired toa mobile device such as a smartphone on the person of the user, to whichwireless receiver 104 may relay wayfinding data, or other data such ascontent data or product data.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a method 500 of navigation and usage guidancein a navigable space is illustrated. At step 505, a portable computingdevice 160 coupled to a wireless receiver 104 receives a first signalfrom a transmitter 128 at a first location 204 a-c in a navigable space.Wireless receiver 104 may receive the first signal from at least onefirst transmitter 128 by any means of wireless communication asdescribed above, using the antenna 108. In some embodiments, wirelessreceiver 104 emits a signal to prompt at least one first transmitter 128to send the first signal; wireless receiver 104 may send aninterrogation signal, using an interrogator. In other words, wirelessreceiver 104 may receive first signal by wirelessly transmitting, via anantenna of the wireless receiver, an interrogation signal providingelectrical power to the transmitter, and wirelessly receiving from thefirst transmitter, and via the antenna, a return signal. Wirelessreceiver 104 may send a plurality of queries, and at least one firsttransmitter 128 may send a series of sets of first signal in response.Wireless receiver 104 or a computing device 218 coupled to wirelessreceiver 104 may parse the first signal. Wireless receiver 104 orcomputing device 218 may organize the first signal into data structures,such as trees, lists, arrays, or tables of information, as describedabove in reference to FIGS. 2A-4D.

In an embodiment, and with continued reference to FIG. 5, device 100 mayuse one or more navigational facilities to locate at least one firsttransmitter 128. As a non-limiting example, device 100 may use GPS orother map-based programs to locate a building or other space containingat least one first transmitter 128. Device 100 may receive informationon where to find at least a first transmitter from one or more beacons;device 100 may use signals from one or more beacons to determine anapproximate position orientation of device relative to at least a firsttransmitter or to a virtual map indicating a location of at least afirst transmitter 128. One or more beacons may be third-party devices;for instance, one or more beacons may be associated with a store, kiosk,or other location that provides beacons to aid in location thereof.Third-party beacons and/or transmitters may incorporated in virtual mapduring installation or subsequent use or update of system.

Still referring to FIG. 5, wireless receiver 104 may receive any firstsignal as described above in reference to FIG. 1. For example, wirelessreceiver 104 may receive a transmitter identity. Wireless receiver 104may receive the fixed location of at least one first transmitter 128.Wireless receiver 104 may receive a location of at least one feature ofthe navigable space 200. Wireless receiver 104 may receive useinformation concerning at least one feature of the navigable space 200,as described above in reference to FIG. 1. Wireless receiver 104 mayreceive state information concerning at least one feature of thenavigable space 200. Wireless receiver 104 may receive path informationfrom at least one first transmitter 128. Wireless receiver 104 mayreceive a location of a second transmitter 156. Wireless receiver 104may receive content information from at least one first transmitter 128.Wireless receiver 104 may receive product information from at least onefirst transmitter 128.

At step 510, and still referring to FIG. 5, portable computing device160 parses first signal for at least a textual element. Where firstsignal is in digital form, portable computing device may interpret adigital sequence contained within first signal by rendering it accordingto an encoding method for one or more data types; for instance, portablecomputing device 160 may divide a string of binary digits intofixed-length blocks, such as bytes of data, and map those blocks to adata type encoded by those blocks, according to any suitable protocol.As a non-limiting example, portable computing device 160 may interpret abinary string as character data. First signal may be received in aparticular format, such as one or two packets; persons skilled in theart, upon reading the entirety of this disclosure, will be aware of manyways in which first signal may be encoded, transmitted, received, anddecoded.

At step 515, with continuing reference to FIG. 5, portable computingdevice extracts a unique identifier of the transmitter from the at leasta textual element. At least a textual element may implement a protocolwhereby one or more fields or elements are labeled, such as, withoutlimitation, XML or packet-based protocols. At least a textual elementmay implement a protocol whereby fields in a prescribed order areseparated by delimiter characters, which may be otherwise unused, suchas commas in comma separated value (CSV) files. At least a textualelement may be ordered in a strict character-count order, in whichunique identifier is always found a particular number of characters froman endpoint, and has a length of a particular number of characters.Portable computing device 160 may be configured to identify and copyunique identifier according to any protocol in which at least a textualelement is encoded.

Still referring to FIG. 5, portable computing device 160 may extract atleast an additional datum. At least an additional datum may include anyadditional data described above in reference to FIGS. 1-4C, includingwithout limitation wayfinding data, feature data, user feature data, orusage data; extraction and presentation of usage data is described infurther detail below. At least an additional datum may includeuser-submitted data, which may have been written to a writeable section152 c of memory as described above. Portable computing device 160 mayprovide the at least an additional datum to the user via the user outputcomponent; at least an additional datum may be provided with a usagesequence as set forward in further detail below, or may be providedseparately.

At step 520, and continuing to refer to FIG. 5, portable computingdevice 160 identifies first location in a first data structure linkingthe unique identifier to the first location. Portable computing device160 may identify first location by querying the first data structure forthe unique identifier, for instance where the first data structure hasindexing by identifiers. Portable computing device 160 may identifyfirst location by traversing first data structure and comparing entriesto unique identifier; for instance, where first data structure includesa tree structure as described above, portable computing device 160 maytraverse the tree structure and compare entries at nodes of treestructure to unique identifier. Traversal may commence at a point infirst data structure based on previous activities performed by or withdevice 100. For instance, user may have scanned a previous transmitterat a root node of a navigable space containing navigable space 200;transmitter at root note, may, for instance, be located at an entry wayto navigable space. Device 100 may have performed one or more elementsof this method to arrive at first transmitter 128; for instance, a setof navigational instructions or a usage sequence may have guided theuser to first transmitter 128. Portable computing device 160 may explorechild nodes of root node (which, it should be emphasized, may be a rootnode of a larger tree); alternatively or additionally portable computingdevice 160 may explore nodes that virtual map indicate are within adistance user may have traversed since the last-scanned node, and maytraverse in any direction along first data structure from such nodes.Similarly, portable computing device 160 may obtain an estimatedlocation for user, near which to search for nodes, based on navigationaldata user may have been following, data from an IMU 180 indicatingdirection and length of travel from a known location, such as anotherapproximate location or another transmitter, approximate user locationobtained from a navigational facility such as GPS, or any combinationthereof. Restricting traversal to estimated or known user locationinformation may have the benefit of more rapid retrieval by restrictingthe space to be searched in first data structure. Data structure mayinclude a data structure linking unique identifier to a map of navigablespace as described above in reference to FIGS. 1-4C.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 5, portable computing device 160 may obtaina second location of a user feature. The second location may be obtainedin a number of ways. For example, and without limitation, identifyingthe second location may involve receiving a user instruction, selectingan identification of the user feature from a plurality ofidentifications of user features as a function of the user instruction,and identifying the second location in the map using the identificationof the user feature; identification of user feature may be stored, forinstance, in first data structure, such as in another node of the typecontaining identifiers of transmitters, or in a node of a distinct typewithin the same tree or other data structure. In one embodiment, theuser instruction may contain the identification of the user feature; forinstance, a list of features in navigable space may be presented to theuser, for instance as a “drop-down menu” or an equivalent provided byaudio means. User may select, via an input device of user outputcomponent 164 or portable computing device 160, an item from that list;list may correspond to an enumeration of items linked to identifiers.

Still referring to FIG. 5, portable computing device 160 may select theidentification of the user feature by determining an identification of acategory of user feature as a function of the user instruction,identifying at least an identification of a user feature of theplurality of identifications of user features, the at least anidentification matching the category, and selecting the identificationof the user feature from the at least an identification. For instance,user instruction may specify the category of user feature. As anon-limiting example, a set or list of categories of features may bepresented to the user, from which the user selects a desired category;the set or list may be presented similarly to the set or list of userfeatures in navigable space 200. The set or list may be restricted tocategories available in navigable space. Alternatively or additionally,user may say or enter a word or phrase that is linked to a user categoryin a data structure such as lookup table. The user instruction mayindicate a desired action, and the portable computing device 160 mayidentify the category using the desired action; in an embodiment, thismay be performed by matching the desired action to one or morecategories of features based on a data structure linking actions tofeatures as described above in reference to FIGS. 1-4C.

With continued reference to FIG. 5, portable computing device 160 mayselect the identification of the user feature from the plurality ofidentifications of user features further by computing a distance fromthe user location to each user feature identified by the plurality ofidentifications of user features and determining that the distance tothe user feature is the smallest distance. Computing the distance may beperformed by obtaining the location of the user feature corresponding toeach identification of the plurality of identifications from virtualmap, and obtaining or computing path-information from first location toeach such location; the traversal distance of each such path informationmay be calculated and compared, and the identification corresponding tothe minimal traversal distance may be selected by numerical comparison.Alternatively or additionally, portable computing device 160 may selectthe identification of the user feature from the plurality ofidentifications of user features by determining that the user feature isunoccupied. For instance, where wireless receiver 104 communicates witha transmitter at a user feature possessing a user presence sensor 148,portable computing device 160 may select an identification correspondingto a user feature having a user presence sensor indicating the userfeature is currently unoccupied; portable computing device 160 mayselect from a plurality of such unoccupied features by minimal pathdistance, as described above. In some embodiments, a device having auser presence sensor may be able to detect that a user is present, butnot when a user has vacated the device; for instance, a toilet stall maydetect when a user gets to his or her feet, but not when the user leavesthe stall. Detection that the user feature is unoccupied may includecessation of detection of occupancy. Detection may further includeassociation of cessation of detection of occupancy with informationconcerning the probability of subsequent vacation by a user, such as atypical time after cessation that a user would leave the user feature;this information may be entered by one or more users. As a non-limitingexample, cessation of detection of a user may trigger a countdown of acertain number of seconds after which device 100 may conclude the userlikely vacated; where device 100 is providing navigational directions touser device, likely time of navigation may be taken into account, forinstance by determining that the countdown is likely to be complete whenthe device 100 arrives at the user feature, and thus that the userfeature may be treated as currently unoccupied for the purposes of usagesequence generation.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 5, all or virtual map and/or first datastructure may be stored on portable computing device 160 alternativelyone or both may be downloaded from a remote device, such as a server ondemand. For instance, when wireless receiver 104 arrives at a locationcorresponding to one or more navigable spaces 200, such as the entranceto a particular building, wireless receiver 104 may send a query to theremote device requesting first data structure portions and/or virtualmap data corresponding to that location. Wireless receiver 104 maydetect location using navigation services such as GPS. Wireless receiver104 may detect location by receiving a signal from at least one firsttransmitter 128. The user may enter location information into thereceiver using any input means described below in reference to FIG. 11.In some embodiments, wireless receiver 104 downloads the information fora set of navigable spaces 200 where there is a strong networkconnection; the connection may be over a cellular data network, awireless connection to a network, or other means. In some embodiments, auser enters an instruction on wireless receiver 104 describing alocation that the user plans to visit at a future point, and wirelessreceiver 104 downloads first data structure and/or virtual mapinformation corresponding to that location.

At step 525, with continued reference to FIG. 5, portable computingdevice 160 determines a location of the user as a function of the firstlocation. Portable computing device 160 may determine location of atleast one first transmitter 128 relative to portable computing device160. Portable computing device 160 may determine that at least one firsttransmitter 128 is closer than a certain distance from portablecomputing device 160 based on the signal range of at least one firsttransmitter 128; for instance, where at least one first transmitter 128includes a passive transmitter, the range at which magnetic coupling iscapable of powering at least one first transmitter 128 may be only a fewinches at most. In other embodiments, portable-computing device 160 maydetermine distance from the at least one at least a transmitter 128using signal-strength, with a stronger signal indicating closerproximity to at least one first transmitter 128.

Still viewing FIG. 5, portable computing device 160 may also determinethe user's orientation relative to at least one first transmitter 128.For instance, determining the location of the user may involvedetermining that the user is located at the first location, because ofthe small effective distance of a passive transmitter and receiver pair.In an embodiment, orientation may be determined by determining that auser holding a receiver reading a passive transmitter is facing avertical surface where the passive transmitter is located. Alternativelyor additionally, user motion prior to or after receipt of first signalmay be used to determine user orientation; an IMU or element thereof maybe used to detect user motion. For instance, where-device 100, usingIMU, for example, determines that user has followed a path approachingat least a first transmitter 128 from a particular direction, device 100may determine that user is facing in that direction; where IMU detectsthat user has turned, for instance, by turning toward at least a firsttransmitter 128, device 100 may update user's probable position.Detecting user's direction of motion may enable device 100 to determineuser orientation with respect to a transmitter that is on a horizontalsurface, such as on or under a counter, or otherwise mounted to anobject that is not a vertical object such as a wall or sign; likewise,orientation relative to a non-fixed object such as a trashcan that hastransmitter on it may be determined by detection of user motion throughdevices including but not limited to components of IMU 180.

Continuing to view FIG. 5, in some embodiments, instructions regardingorientation are given using the UCS of at least a transmitter 128 atwhich the user is currently located, as a sequence of turns and paces.As a non-limiting example, instructions to follow a given path may startwith the assumption that the user is currently facing at least atransmitter 128, and instruct the user to (a) turn around, (b) proceed 5feet (along the Y axis), (c) go to the right (along the X axis) for 8feet, then (d) proceed for 3 feet at a 45-degree angle from the Y axis,as measured from the positive X axis (to the right of the Y axis in thisexample). In some embodiments, this sequence is provided to the user byway of user output component 164. Portable computing device 160 mayproduce or receive further instructions to provide to the user uponarriving at a subsequent at least a transmitter 128; the additionalinstructions may us orientation relative to the new at least atransmitter 128.

Still referring to FIG. 5, where there is a surface feature 216 locatedat the first location 204 a, portable computing device 160 may use thesurface feature 216 as a reference point to navigate the navigable space200. In other words, portable computing device 160 may give directionsto the user using the surface feature 216 as a starting point. In someembodiments, this gives the user a straightforward approach to use inentering any navigable space 200 in which the system 100 is deployed,where the user seeks out the surface feature 216, placing wirelessreceiver 104 in contact with at least one first transmitter 128, andportable computing device 160 uses path or wayfinding data to give theuser navigation instructions 200 from the surface feature 216; thesurface feature 216 may be in a predictable location within thenavigable space 200. Alternatively, portable computing device 160 maymaintain instructions for finding the surface feature 216 in memoryaccessible to portable computing device 160. Portable computing device160 may determine the position of portable computing device 160 withinthe navigable space using the determined position of portable computingdevice 160 relative to at least one first transmitter 128. Portablecomputing device 160 may determine the position of portable computingdevice 160 within the navigable space using the determined position ofportable computing device 160 relative to the second at least atransmitter 128. Portable computing device 160 may determine theposition of portable computing device 160 within the navigable space 200using IMU 180; for instance, portable computing device 160 may use IMU180 to determine the direction and speed of motion of portable computingdevice 160 from an initial position; portable computing device 160 mayuse this to determine where the user is within the navigable space 200and to determine whether the user is following a path within thenavigable space 200 corresponding to a usage sequence as describedabove.

At step 530, with continued reference to FIG. 5, the portable computingdevice 160 provides the location of the user via a user output component164 coupled to the portable computing device 160. Portable computingdevice may present the location of the user using the display 168. Forinstance, portable computing device may cause the display 168 to displayinformation in large type. Portable computing device may cause thedisplay 168 to display one or more shapes, such as directional arrows;for instance, a direction arrow may indicate the user location as in“you are here” note on a map. The direction indicated by the directionalarrow may adjust its orientation relative to the user using data from anIMU 180. Other shapes, including stars, asterisks, and the like mayalternatively or additionally be used. Portable computing device maypresent the location of the user using audio output device 172; forinstance, portable computing device may cause a speaker, headphones, ora headset to output a verbal description of the location. The verbaldescription may be generated using text-to-speech software. The verbaldescription may be pre-recorded.

Portable computing device may present location of user using a tactileoutput device 176. Portable computing device may cause tactile outputdevice 176 to output description of location of user in braille or inother texture-readable forms; tactile output may include, withoutlimitation, a tactile map of the immediate area and/or tactilerepresentations of features or operation thereof. Portable computingdevice may cause tactile output device 176 to output shapes, such asdirectional arrows, as described above.

At optional step 535, and still referring to FIG. 5, portable computingdevice 160 retrieves usage data from a second data structure linking thefeature to usage data for using the feature. In an embodiment, portablecomputing device 160 may retrieve the usage data using identification ofthe user feature as described above from the data structure described inreference to FIGS. 1-4C.

At optional step 540, and continuing to refer to FIG. 5, portablecomputing device 160 may generate a usage sequence for using a userfeature, such as user feature at second location, as a function of thelocation of the user, the second location, and the usage data. Portablecomputing device 160 may determine usage sequence by receiving a userinstruction indicating a desired course of action. User instruction maybe entered using any data entry device as described below in referenceto FIG. 11. For instance, user instruction may be entered verbally,using speech recognition software. User instruction may be enteredmanually using a touchscreen, a keyboard, buttons, or other controls. Insome embodiments, portable computing device 160′ presents the user witha set of options, and receives a user instruction selecting an optionfrom the set; this may be accomplished using the display 168 or atactile output device 176 to list the options, or using an audio outputdevice 172 to present the options similarly to an automated phoneservice. The options may correspond to a set of default usage sequenceslikely to be useful for the use of the navigable space 200. For example,likely usage sequences to be performed in a bathroom may involve using atoilet stall, using a urinal, washing at a sink, locating paper towels,or locating a trash can.

Still viewing FIG. 5, in some embodiments, portable computing deviceuses the instruction entered by the user to retrieve a usage sequence. Ausage sequence may be a series of steps the user may take to accomplisha given task in the navigable space 200. As a non-limiting example,where the task is to use a bathroom stall, the sequence may involve (A)instructing the user to move in a direction toward a particular stall,(B) instructing the user how to enter the stall, (C) informing the userhow to locate a toilet within stall, (D) informing the user how tolocate toilet paper within stall, (E) and instructing the user how toflush using retrieved usage info. Further continuing the example, someportions of the usage sequence may be instructions to be performed byportable computing device or a computing device 218 coupled to thereceiver, and not directly presented to the user; such steps may include(a) finding location of at least one bathroom stall, (b) determiningwhich of the at least ore stall is unoccupied, (c) determining which ofthe at least one stall is functioning, and (d) determining a path to theat least one stall from (1) location of the transmitter or (2) locationof the receiver. Each of these steps may be determined using wayfindingdata obtained from at least one first transmitter 128, a secondtransmitter 156, or from memory as described above. Where the userlocation differs from the second location, generating the usage sequencemay involve generating at least an instruction for navigating from theuser location to the second location; alternatively, portable computingdevice 160 may determine that first location and second location aresubstantially the same, indicating user is already at user feature, andmay not generate navigation instructions. Where user is at user feature,portable computing device 160 may generate orientation instructions, forinstance informing user by reference to a tactile indicator near or onuser feature, or a transmitter near or at user feature, how to orienthim or herself relative to user feature.

With continued reference to FIG. 5, usage sequence may include one ormore elements of information concerning an item or object to which atleast a first transmitter or second transmitter is attached or at whichat least a first transmitter or second transmitter is located, oranother item including without limitation a user feature as describedherein. For instance, and without limitation, usage sequence may includecontents data, or data describing material contained in such an item,which may be denoted “internal contents data,” data identifying item,which may be described as “item identity data,” and/or ingredients in afood, drink, or other element of item, which may be denoted as“ingredient data.” Usage sequence, in an embodiment, may include atleast a step for user to perform with or on item, including anyoperational step or sequence, unpacking or opening instructions, or thelike.

As a further example, and continuing to view FIG. 5, portable computingdevice may perform a sequence of steps to use a toilet in a restaurantor similar venue, including: a) storing the current table and seatlocation where the user is located; (b) retrieving information regardinga path to a restroom foyer or lobby; (c) once in the foyer or lobby,retrieving the path to the men's restroom; (d) once in the men'srestroom, retrieving the path to the handicap toilet stall that containsa shelf and a paper toilet seat cover dispenser; (e) once at the toilet,retrieving the path to a handicap accessible sink and the relativelocations of a nearby soap dispenser and a paper towel dispenser; (f)once at the sink, retrieving the path to the trash receptacle andrestroom exit; and (g) once at the exit, retrieving the path back to thestored initial table and seat in the dining area. The arrival at eachlocation may be detected by receiving, from at least a transmitter 128at that location, the transmitter's wayfinding data. The retrieval ofthe path information in each step may be performed by receiving the pathinformation from at least a transmitter 128 located at that step, byreceiving the path information over the network using the identity of atleast a transmitter 128 located at that step, or a combination of thetwo methods.

Continuing to view FIG. 5, an additional example illustrates the abilityof portable computing device to use features within the navigable spaceto aid in navigation. In one embodiment, portable computing deviceperforms a usage sequence that aids a user in finding and utilizing aurinal. Portable computing device may (a) find the closest men'srestroom; (b) upon entry to the restroom; signal an automaticallyflushing urinal to flush when nobody is there. The signal may beperformed using a wireless transceiver link as described above. The usermay then walk toward the sound of the flushing urinal, with no need forfurther information indicating the urinal's location. The user mayselect a sequence using one or more spaces as described above prior toengaging in the sequence. The sequence may use path information fromvirtual map to guide the user through the navigational steps in thesequence. In an embodiment, a plurality of usage sequences may beconfigured; a user may configure usage sequences by requesting a list ofdesired usage sequences. Alternatively, list of usage sequences may becreated by tracking past user interaction with device 100 or system;list may be ranked in order of probability that user will utilize a giveusage sequence, where probability may be based on past usage by user.Device 100 may generate each usage sequence from the list that ispossible in navigable space upon reception of the signal; alternativelydevice 100 may proffer a list of possible sequences from user list touser and generate a selected sequence upon receiving a user selection.As a non-limiting example, the user may create or request generation ofa sequence to wash hands, instructing to user to proceed to the nearestrestroom where the user is permitted, find the closest sink (or closestunoccupied sink), describe how to operate the sink and/or soapdispenser, indicate hand-drier location and operation if availableand/or paper towel location and operation, indicate the location of atrash receptacle, and direct the user to the restroom exit; directionsback to user's previous location may also be included. Persons skilledin the art, upon reading the entirety of this disclosure, will be awareof many other possible usage sequences, including without limitationsequences for using toilets, including particular categories of toilets,sequences for changing babies' diapers, sequences for locating and usingATMs, and the like.

Still viewing FIG. 5, in an embodiment, user feature has at least a usercontrol. At least a user control may be a button, lever, sensor, switch,doorknob, door latch, keyboard, keypad, or other item that allows a userto switch on or off, open, move, or otherwise manipulate part or all ofuser feature. Retrieving usage data may involve retrieving datadescribing the at least a user control. Portable computing device maygenerate usage sequence in part by generating at least a userinstruction for use of the user control; this may be accomplished, forinstance, by adding a step in the sequence outputting the datadescribing the at least a user control. Data describing at least a usercontrol may include, for instance data indicating a category of usercontrol, such as motion sensor, door knob, door handle, lever,push-button, switch, and the like. Data describing at least a usercontrol may include, as another example, data indicating a location onuser feature of the user control, such as whether the user control is onthe right or left side of the user feature when the user is facing it,whether the user control is on top of or under a counter, a height atwhich user control may be found, any object user may have to reacharound to access the user control, and the like.

With continued reference to FIG. 5, portable computing device 160 mayprovide the usage sequence via a user output component 164 coupled tothe portable computing device 160. Portable computing device may presentthe usage sequence using the display 168. For instance, portablecomputing device may cause the display 168 to display information inlarge type. Portable computing device may cause the display 168 todisplay one or more shapes, such as directional arrows; for instance,where the user has requested to proceed to a particular feature, asdescribed in further detail below, portable computing device may causethe display 168 to display a directional arrow indicating the directionin which to proceed to arrive at the feature. The direction indicated bythe directional arrow may adjust its orientation relative to the userusing data from an IMU 180. Portable computing device may present thedata using audio output device 172; for instance, portable computingdevice may cause a speaker, headphones, or a headset to output verbalinstructions. The verbal instructions may be generated usingtext-to-speech software. The verbal instructions may be pre-recorded.

Still referring to FIG. 5, usage sequence may include or be linked toone or more pre-recorded videos, animations, audio files, and/or textfiles describing all or part of usage sequence. Such pre-recordedvideos, animations, audio files, and/or text files may be presented touser via user output component 164 automatically; alternatively oradditionally, one or more pre-recorded videos, animations, audio files,and/or text files may be provided to user upon entry of a user command,such as user selection of a button or verbally provided “show me” promptor the like. Such pre-recorded videos, animations, audio files, and/ortext files may be divided into a plurality of sub-sections or segmentsto illustrate particular steps or components of usage sequence. Suchpre-recorded videos, animations, audio files, and/or text files may beprovided in system 100 according to any means or method for reception,generation, or other provision of data as listed herein, includingwithout limitation provision by a manufacturer of any device orcomponent of system 100, provision by a proprietor or service providerof system 100, input by one or more users (including without limitationrecording of audio and/or video recordings by users by means of, as anon-limiting example, mobile devices), and/or groups of users; provisionmay be provided with respect to a first item, and then automatedlyand/or by user command applied to another similar item.

With continued reference to FIG. 5, portable computing device maypresent the usage sequence using a tactile output device 176; forinstance, portable computing device may produce vibration to signal whenthe user is near to or facing a feature to which the user intends toproceed, as set forth in further detail below. Portable computing devicemay cause tactile output device 176 to output instructions in braille orin other texture-readable forms; tactile output may include, withoutlimitation, a tactile map of the immediate area and/or tactilerepresentations of features or operation thereof. Portable computingdevice may cause tactile output device 176 to output shapes, such asdirectional arrows; for instance, where the user has requested toproceed to a particular feature, as described in further detail below,portable computing device may cause tactile output device 220 to outputa directional arrow indicating the direction in which to proceed toarrive at the feature. The direction indicated by the directional arrowmay adjust its orientation relative to the user using data from an IMU180.

In some embodiments, presenting the usage sequence to the user alsoinvolves looking up additional data, such as wayfinding data, usingsignal received from at least one first transmitter 128. Portablecomputing device may use one or more items of data from the signal as akey to retrieve additional data from memory. For instance, portablecomputing device may use an identifier that identifies at least onefirst transmitter 128 to retrieve data associated with that transmitterfrom memory; multiple data items may be used to form narrower selectionsof data. The data in memory may be stored on portable computing deviceor in a remote device (not shown) such as a server as described below inreference to FIG. 11, or other computing device. The data may be storedin a database as described below in reference to FIG. 11. The data maybe stored in a data structure such as a tree, linked list, hash table,array, or any other suitable data structure.

In some embodiments, portable computing device causes user outputcomponent 164 to provide a single item of information to the user. Thesingle item of information may be the current location of portablecomputing device, and hence the user. For instance, where at least-onefirst transmitter 128 has a small range of communication, portablecomputing device may determine from the fact of communication with atleast one first transmitter 128 that portable computing device isimmediately adjacent to at least one first transmitter 128. Locationinformation of at least one first transmitter 128 may therefore enableportable computing device to determine where in the navigable space 200portable computing device is located. Likewise, portable computingdevice may cause user output component 164 to inform the user of dataabout an immediately user feature 212, such as a sink or stall; useroutput component 164 may identify the feature. User output component 164may provide use information about the feature. User output component 164may provide state information about the feature. Thus, as a non-limitingexample, the user may place portable computing device close to at leastone first transmitter 128; using data from at least one firsttransmitter 128 (either directly or as a key for data retrieval),portable computing device may determine that a toilet stall isimmediately next to the user, that the toilet stall contains a toiletthat automatically flushes, and that the toilet stall is not currentlyoccupied. Further continuing the example, the user may know as a resulthow to proceed with using the toilet stall with relatively little trialand error; portable computing device may use orientation informationconcerning portable computing device or a coupled device to determine inwhich direction the user-must likely turn to access the stall, andprovide that information to the user as well.

Still referring to FIG. 5, one or more usage sequences may be presentedto the user in response to scans of additional transmitters. Forinstance, where second transmitter 156 is located at the secondlocation, providing the usage sequence to the user may include providingat least an instruction for navigating to the second location to theuser, receiving a second signal from the second transmitter, andproviding at least one additional instruction of the usage sequence tothe user. Thus, for instance, portable computing device 160 may provideonly navigation data for getting to the user feature until the userarrives at the user feature; portable computing device 160 may providean instruction to the user instructing the user to place wirelessreceiver 104 near second transmitter 156 to obtain a signal from secondtransmitter 156. The at least one additional instruction produced afterreception of second signal may include an instruction for using the userfeature. The at least one additional instruction may include at least aninstruction for navigating to a second user feature; for instance, usagesequence may involve navigating to a first feature, such as a toilet orurinal, using the first feature, navigating to a second feature, andusing the second feature. This set of steps may be repeated one or moretimes: for instance, arriving at the sink, user may scan a thirdtransmitter, obtaining instructions for using the sink and/orinstructions to get to a third user feature, such as a hand drier orpaper towel rack; another scan of a fourth transmitter at the third userfeature may indicate how to find an exit from the bathroom. In anembodiment, portable computing device 160 receives an indication thatuser has completed the usage sequence; user may enter the indicationthrough an input device, or wireless receiver 104 may receive a signalfrom a transmitter indicating that user has completed sequence. Portablecomputing device 160 may then use user output component 164 to ask userwhether user wishes to perform another action, look for another feature,or receive further navigation instructions; one or more steps of method500 may then be repeated.

Alternatively or additionally, and still referring to FIG. 5, usagesequence may be generated and/or output upon user navigating to aspecific location. For instance, user may receive a first usage sequencedirecting user to navigate to a center of navigable space, a particulararchitectural feature or user feature, or a second transmitter; usagesequence may be provided to user upon arrival at specific location. Usermay enter an instruction indicating arrival at specific location, ordevice 100 may detect user arrival; detection may include receiving asignal from a second transmitter, which may be a return signal wheresecond transmitter is a transponder. Detection may include detection ofuser motion, position, and/or orientation using an IMU to determinedirection and/or distance of user travel. Detection may includedetection of user motion, position, and/or orientation using one or morenavigational facilities. Detection may include detection of user motion,position, and/or orientation using signals received at receiver 104 fromone or more active transmitters including without limitation beacons.Usage sequence may be generated automatedly upon detection; forinstance, user may have entered data used to identify second location,according to any means or method described above, prior to arrival atspecific location. User may enter data used to identify second location,according to any means or method described above, upon arrival atspecific location. Usage sequence may be generated previously, butprovided to user only upon arrival at specific location.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 5, device 100 may cause user feature tosignal its location to user. For instance, where user feature has anelectronically controlled component that produces noise, such as anautomated flusher in a toilet, device 100 may transmit a signal,directly or indirectly, to user feature that causes user feature toactivate the electronically controlled component; as a non-limitingexample, device 100 may cause an electronically flushing toilet to flushitself, alerting user to the direction in which to travel to arrive atthe electronically flushing toilet. User feature may have a speaker,claxon, or other audio output device that may similarly be activated toorient user. Device 100 may similarly activate or detect an activetransmitter located at user feature, including without limitation abeacon, to indicate a distance user must travel to arrive at userfeature, using relative strength of signal, for instance. Strength ofsignal may be coupled with IMU data or other data tracking position,direction of motion, and/or orientation of user to determine whetheruser is proceeding toward user feature; corrective notifications may beprovided to user to indicate whether user is proceeding toward userfeature or not. User may trigger any one of these actions by entry of aninstruction, for instance by activation of a button; alternatively oradditionally, any one of these actions may occur automatedly when device100 determines second location and/or user feature user has indicateddesire to use as described above. This process may be performed inaddition to or instead of generation of usage sequence as describedherein.

With continued reference to FIG. 5, device 100 may detect whether useris following steps of usage sequence. Detection may be performed usingan IMU, navigational facility, reference to signals from one or moreactive transmitters, including without limitation beacons, and/orreception of a signal from a second transmitter. In an embodiment,device 100 detects that user has deviated from usage sequence, forinstance by proceeding to a different location from second location;device 100 may output an alert to user indicating that user hasdeviated. Device 100 may generate an updated usage sequence as afunction of user's new current location; generation may be performed asdescribed above. Where user is at or near a different user feature thanthat originally used for usage sequence, device 100 may generate a newusage sequence using the different user feature in place of the originaluser feature; this may be implemented as described above.

In some of the embodiments of method 500, and continuing to refer toFIG. 5, device 100 may receive information from the user. Theinformation may include feedback about the functioning of device 100 inthe navigable space 200 in question; for example, the user may find thata set of instructions failed to account for an obstacle, led the user tothe wrong user feature 212, were out of date, or were difficult tofollow, or that one or more user features did not function according tothe use data provided. The information may include feedback about thenavigable space 200, such as the discovery that a particular toilet didnot function properly, or was closed for repair, or that the user hasdiscovered a particularly helpful way to deal with a particular userfeature. The information may be temporary in nature, as for a toiletthat is out of order, or may indicate a more permanent situation, suchas particular location of a doorknob or particular way of using a givenuser feature when functioning correctly.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 5, in some embodiments, where at least atransmitter 128 includes writable memory 152 b,c, the user may providethe information directly to the transmitter by writing to thetransmitter memory. In some embodiments user-provided data in thewritable memory is flagged as coming from a user, so that portablecomputing device 160 of a subsequent user is able to distinguishuser-provided information from information provided by the administratorof device 100; in this way, a user may be able to assess the reliabilityof the data received from at least a transmitter 128. In someembodiments, the user instructs portable computing device 160 to writeone or more items of data to a user-possessed transmitter, as describedabove; the data may indicate any information the user wishes to conveyconcerning an object attached to the user-possessed transmitter.

Still referring to FIG. 5, in other embodiments, the user enters theinformation on portable computing device 160, and the receiver providesthe information to a computing device such as a remote server or datacenter. Portable computing device 160 may provide the information to theremote device when the network connection to the remote device is ofsufficient quality to transmit information; if not, portable computingdevice 160 may store the information locally and upload the informationto the remote device when the connection is sufficiently strong. Inother embodiments, the user may enter the information on the system viaa website or other application besides portable computing device 160. Insome embodiments, the user enters the information on portable computingdevice 160 or website as text written or spoken by the user, asphotographs, as videos, or in any other suitable form. In otherembodiments, the user enters the information on portable computingdevice 160 or website in a pre-selected form; for instance, portablecomputing device 160 or website may present the user with one or morestatements to which the user can indicate agreement. The one or morestatements may be presented in the form of a checkbox, drop-down menu,the option to select one or more buttons, or the like. As a non-limitingexample the statements to which the user may assent or not include thestatement that a at least a transmitter 128 is not working, that atleast a transmitter 128 or system 100 provided incorrect information,that more information is needed, or similar statements. Those commentsalong with the unique identification of the signs encountered or spaceencountered may be transmitted to an Internet connected storage locationsuch as a remote device immediately or at a later time if Internetaccessibility is not immediately available, as noted above.

With continued reference to FIG. 5, user-entered data may be stored byportable computing device 160 in a data structure a user identifier totransmitter 128 as described above in reference to FIGS. 1-4C; as anon-limiting example, linking to user identifier may indicate to otherusers or users of other devices similar to device 100 that data wasentered by a particular user, or by the particular user of device 100.User-entered data may be provided to all users or only to the user thatentered it; for instance, user may enter an instruction that an item ofinformation concerning first transmitter 128 be shared with other users,or may enter an instruction that the item be available only to user. Inthe latter case, item may be provided to user along with usage sequencein a subsequent interaction with first transmitter 128. User-entereddata may alternatively be linked to user feature, an architecturalfeature, or to another transmitter.

Still referring to FIG. 5, information entered by the user may beevaluated for its accuracy. Unevaluated information may be presented tousers via portable computing device 160 or a website with an indicationthat it is user-entered data. In some embodiments, the evaluation isprogrammatic. In other embodiments, the evaluation is manual; forexample, a person authorized to evaluation the information may check theaccuracy of the submitted information and then enter an instructionindicating that the information is accurate. In some embodiments,wireless receiver 104 of a subsequent user encountering the sametransmitter receives the information, and the user is asked to determinewhether the user-entered information is correct; a plurality ofsubsequent users may be asked, with a threshold number or proportion ofaffirmative answers causing the information to be verified. In someembodiments, once the information is verified, device 100 transmits theinformation to portable computing device of a user who is in contactwith at least a transmitter 128, and wireless receiver 104 writes theinformation to the transmitter; this may be performed automatically,without the user necessarily being aware of it.

In some embodiments, updated or modified data is entered on the at leasta first transmitter 128 by an authorized user. Where the datacorresponds to a given at least a transmitter 128, the updatedinformation may be conveyed to a receiver 104 being used by a user thatis in contact with the transmitter, and written to at least atransmitter 128 by that receiver 104; in some embodiments, the updateddata is transmitted to all receivers 104 that are within a certain rangeof at least a transmitter 128 according to virtual map, such as allreceivers 104 in the building or on the floor of the building where atleast a transmitter 128 is located. Alternatively, and as discussedelsewhere herein, user-entered information may be made available in oneor more data structures, and may be accessible to user, a group of whichuser is a member, to all users, to users having certain authenticationcredentials, or any other suitable access protocol.

User-entered information may include group information. Groupinformation may be information concerning a group of users related by aparticular interest or other commonality. As a non-limiting example,where at least a first transmitter 128 is installed at a street sign onbehalf of a municipal government, a user representing the municipalgovernment may enter user-entered information containing the informationdisplayed on the sign, such as a street name, intersection, or the like.Continuing the example, a user who works with a public transportationsystem within the municipality may add user-entered informationindicating one or more locations of bus stops, train stations, orsimilar items, relative to the sign. Further continuing the example, oneor more owners or employees of local retail or service establishmentsmay enter user-entered information directing users to theirestablishment. Each of these forms of information may be accessible to auser; in some embodiments, user instructions indicating a desiredactivity or sequence may cause the information to be filtered, forinstance by providing, for a user interested in dining out, onlyinformation concerning nearby restaurants. User-entered information mayinclude any data describable using user text, voice, or other entry,including without limitation contents data, navigation sequences and/ordata, usage sequences and/or data, operational data, or the like.

Still referring to FIG. 5, any data entered or contained in system 100with respect to and/or linked to unique identifier and/or anytransmitter may be associated with one or more access levels orcontrols, including without limitation data limited to only a singleuser, data available only to a group of users, and/or data available toany user operating system 100 and/or any device or component includedwithin system. Thus, for instance, a first user operating a mobilecomputing device as disclosed herein may be presented with a first setof information linked to at least a first transmitter, while a seconduser may be presented with a second set of information; first set maydiffer from second set, for instance and without limitation by exclusionfrom second set of private and/or group-related information linked tofirst user and not second user, and/or by inclusion of private and/orgroup-related information linked to second user and not first user.Further continuing the example, first set and second set may have incommon data that is publicly available and/or data linked to a group inwhich both first user and second user are members. As an illustrativeexample, and without limitation, at a food court or similar space,several restaurants may place their public data on the same tag, whereplacing it “on the tag” may be accomplished according to any step orsets of steps for reception from at least a first transmitter of uniqueidentifier followed by entry of data linked therewith. Continuing theexample, when a user reads the tag, a list of restaurants with publicdata may be listed; the user may select a restaurant concerning whichthe user is interested in getting more information. As a furthernon-limiting example for illustrative purposes only, at a hotel hostingone or more conventions, the convention may have multiple sessionspertaining to a specific topic listed as a group; the convention mayhave multiple such groups of topics listed on the same tag, and a userthat is a paid attender of a first convention may see only thatconventions topics and not topics relating to other conventions going onat the same time. Continuing the example, the user may see the severalgroups of topics for the user's convention and be able to select thegroup which he or she has interest. Persons skilled in the art, uponreviewing the entirety of this disclosure, will be aware of various waysin which information may be shared and/or limited for different usersbased on private, group, and public access levels or categories, asdisclosed herein.

In some embodiments, wireless receiver 104 receives data from athird-party transmitter, such as a transmitter associated with a productor service in the navigable space 200. For instance, the third-partytransmitter may be an RFID tag that contains product information. As anon-limiting example, the product information may include locations,ingredients, allergen, or nutritional data of food products on a menu oron a shelf in a grocery store. The product information may include menuitem descriptions and prices at a restaurant. In other embodiments, thedata from the third-party transmitter is content data, for instance, arestaurant may provide near-field communication tags on its salt andpepper shakers or condiment dispensers indicating the contents thereof.In other embodiments, wireless receiver 104 receives identifyinginformation from the third-party transmitter, and uses the identifyinginformation to retrieve product data or content data; the identifyinginformation may identify the transmitter, a product, a container, oranother item such as a sign, menu, or the like. Wireless receiver 104may present this information to the user by way of user output component164.

In an alternative or additional embodiment, wireless receiver 104 reads,using a code reader, a code. The code may be a UPC code or QR codeattached to a product or feature. The code may be a third-party code.The code may contain product data. The code may contain content data.The code may include an identifier that wireless receiver 104 uses toretrieve product data or content data.

Referring now to FIG. 6, an exemplary embodiment of a method 600 ofinstalling a system for navigation and usage guidance in a navigablespace is illustrated. At step 605, a first transmitter having a uniqueidentifier is provided. First transmitter may be any transmittersuitable for use as at least a first transmitter 128 as described above.Unique identifier may be any unique identifier as described above. Firsttransmitter may be configured to transmit the unique identifier; thismay be implemented according to any means or methods described above inreference to FIG. 5.

At step 610, and still referring to FIG. 6, first transmitter isinstalled at a first location in a navigable space. Navigable space maybe any navigable space 200 as described above. Installation may beperformed by any means for installation consistent with FIGS. 1-5,including adhesion or other attachment to a sign such as an ADA sign,informational object, an architectural feature or user feature,incorporation in a sign, informational object, an architectural featureor user feature, or the like. First and/or second touch-discernablefeatures may be installed in relation to first transmitter.

Continuing to view FIG. 6, at step 615, at least a datum relating tonavigable space is received at a portable computing device. At least adatum may include any information in any form described above aspertaining to navigable spaces, user features, architectural features,transmitters, beacons, or any other items. At least a datum may includean indication of the first location is received at a portable computingdevice. Indication of first location may be received via user input; forinstance, a user may identify the first location on a map such asdescribed above, and enter an instruction identifying the firstlocation, for instance by selecting the first location on a displayindicating the first location within the map. User may enter aninstruction indicating an architectural feature or user feature at whichthe first location is located; for instance, user may enter aninstruction indicating that the first transmitter is located on a doorframe of an exit from the navigable space 200, which can be identifiedon the map by computing device. User may alternatively or additionallybe following instructions; for instance, computing device 100 may promptuser to install at a particular first location as part of an overallinstallation process. Received indication may include information usableto map first location to coordinates in a coordinate system as describedabove; for instance, coordinates may be entered directly, or inferredfrom a location of a locator, such as a mouse cursor or the like, thatthe user utilizes to indicate a displayed location.

Still viewing FIG. 6, received indication may include informationidentifying first location relative to a second location in navigablespace. Second location may include a location of a second transmitter.Second location may include a location of a feature that a user mayreadily identify, with or without a transmitter. For instance, secondlocation may include a location of an architectural feature, includingwithout limitation a column, door, wall, change of flooring (e.g.,change from one tile size to another, from carpet to tile, and thelike), counter, corner, shelving, or any other architectural featuredescribed above. Second location may include a user feature, includingwithout limitation fixed features, such as sinks, stalls, ATMs,condiment stations, paper towel dispensers, coat hooks, toilet seatcovers, and the like, and non-fixed features such as trash cans and thelike. Second location may include a location of any element of anassembly 300 as described above, including first and/or secondtouch-discernable features, informational objects, and the like.

With continued reference to FIG. 6, information identifying firstlocation relative to second location may include numerical instructions,such as distance and direction of travel from second location to firstlocation. Information identifying first location relative to secondlocation may include one or more instructions, such as instructions toturn toward second location and proceed a certain number of steps inthat direction. Information identifying first location relative tosecond location may include information usable to identify secondlocation, such as information describing an architectural feature, userfeature, and/or element of an assembly 300 at second location. Receivedinformation may, as a non-limiting example, instruct a user to proceedto second location and then continue from second location to one or moreadditional locations within navigable space; the second location may bea central location within navigable space, from which travel to otherlocations is relatively straightforward, such as a door to a restroom,or just inside a door to a restroom.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 6, receiving indication of first locationmay include receiving information entered by a user. For instance, auser that is installing first transmitter may physically measuredistances between first location and second location, and enter thephysically measured distances using any input devices described herein.User may enter additional instructions for navigation to or use ofsecond location; additional instructions may include any feature data asdescribed above, relating to any feature at second location or atadditional locations. Additional instructions may include usagesequences or portions thereof as described above. Additionalinstructions may include an identity of a venue at which navigable spaceis located; venue may be, for instance, a restaurant, hotel, or otherbuilding. Additional instructions may include a name of navigable spaceor some portion thereof; as a non-limiting example, name may identifynavigable space as a Men's restroom, a food court, or the like.Instructions may be entered during the process in which firsttransmitter is installed, or at an earlier or later time; for instance,a user may enter any indication of first location and/or additionalinstructions prior to installation of first transmitter, immediatelyafter installation, or at any point subsequent to installation.

In an embodiment, and still referring to FIG. 6, a user enteringinformation including any indication of first location and/or additionalinstructions by following one or more prompts provided to user via useroutput component 164. As a non-limiting example, device 100 may promptuser to install first transmitter at one or more pre-selected locations.For instance, device 100 may previously receive an instruction orotherwise be configured to identify a first location where firsttransmitter is to be installed, such as an entryway, ADA-compliant sign,or the like; user may be provided an instruction to install firsttransmitter one of the one or more pre-selected locations, and thenprompted to select the location at which installation occurred, or wherethere is only a single pre-selected location, to indicate thatinstallation occurred at that location. A user may similarly be promptedto enter locations of additional transmitters as described below,measured distances between first location and second location and/oradditional locations, and the like. A user may be prompted to enter asequence of directions for navigation to and/or use of a user feature,exit door, or the like. As a non-limiting illustration, a user may beprompted to enter, and enter a first instruction indicating a directionin which to proceed from a known orientation, such as the orientation ofa user currently located at first location; user may select from a setof prompts including “left,” “right,” “diagonally right,” and so forth.User may be prompted to enter a distance in which to proceed in thechosen direction, and may be provided a field to enter a distance insome unit or units of measurement, or to select from a list of presetdistances in a dropdown list. User may alternatively or additionally beprompted to enter a distance to travel in terms of an architecturalfeature, user feature, or other landmark, such as an instruction toproceed to the end of a wall, to a door frame, into a vestibule, or thelike. These prompts may continue to request additional instructionsuntil user has indicated that a person following the instructions wouldarrive at the feature in question; user may have a “sequence completed”button or the like to select to indicate that a navigation sequence,usage sequence, or both may have been completed. Sequences may beentered and/or stored relating two or more associated features, such asa sequence or instruction describing location of a soap dispenserrelative to a sink, as well as usage instructions for the soapdispenser, a sequence or instruction describing a location of a coathook within a stall, relative to a stall door, a sequence or instructionindicating how to locate a seat cover relative to a stall door, and thelike.

Still viewing FIG. 6, receiving the indication of the first location mayinclude receiving, from a second transmitter, a signal and identifyingthe first location as a function of the signal. Second transmitter mayhave a first location that has already been recorded by reference tomap. In an embodiment, computing device may receive signal from secondtransmitter, determine first location of computing device as a result ofthe signal as described above, detect that it is being carried to firstlocation, and identify first location as a function of the detection;detection may include, for instance, receiving unique identifier fromfirst transmitter. Thus, for example, user may “tap” second transmitterat its known first location, walk to first transmitter, and then “tap”first transmitter; elements coupled to computing device, includingwithout limitation an IMU or any element thereof, navigationalfacilities, and/or signals from one or more beacons, may be used todetermine the path the user has taken while carrying computing device,so that upon reception of unique identifier from first transmitter,computing device is able to determine its current first location, andthus the first location of first transmitter. Alternatively oradditionally, second transmitter may include one or more beacons, whichcomputing device may use to determine its first location when contactingfirst transmitter. The above-described methods for receiving anindication of the first location may be combined; for instance wheresecond transmitter is used to determine first location, determined firstlocation may be presented to user for correction or approval, and usermay enter an instruction verifying that the first location is correct orcorrecting the first location.

At step 620, and still referring to FIG. 6, the computing device linksunique identifier to at least a datum in a data structure relatingunique identifiers to data pertaining to navigable space. Data structuremay be any data structure as described herein. Computing device may linkfirst location to unique identifier in a data structure relating thefirst location to at least a second location in the navigable space.Data structure may include any data structure as described above,including without limitation data structure in list form, such as avector, linked list, or array, a recursive structure such as a tree, ora database; data structure may or may not be related to a map asdescribed above. Computing device may link unique identifier with one ormore additional items of information in data structure or an additionaldata structure, including without limitation any additionalinstructions, navigation sequences, usage sequences, identification ofvenue, or name of navigable space and/or portion of navigable space.Information may be linked using any data structures described above,including without limitation data structures containing usage dataand/or usage sequences or components-thereof, as described above.

At optional step 625, and with continued reference to FIG. 6, computingdevice may receive, from first transmitter, a signal containing theunique identifier. Receiving may be implemented in any manner describedabove for reception of a signal from at least a transmitter. By way ofillustration, and as a non-limiting example, user may install firsttransmitter, select from a set of prompts the name “Men's Restroom,” andreceive signal from the first transmitter; signal may be parsed asdescribed above to obtain unique identifier, which then may be linked tothe name “Men's Restroom” as well as a location received or detected asdescribed above.

At optional step 630, and still referring to FIG. 6, the computingdevice links the first location to the unique identifier in a datastructure linking identifiers to a map of the navigable space. Datastructure and map may be implemented in any manner described above. Usermay enter any additional information concerning first location,including user information, group information, usage data, and the like.Each of steps 605-630 may be repeated for multiple transmitters, forinstance to install transmitters throughout navigable space or abuilding or other area containing navigable spaces. A transmitter at anexterior to building or area may be established as a “root” of datastructure; data structure may be incorporated or a part of a larger datastructure; including without limitation maps used for navigationfacilities, additional data structures of larger areas, or datastructures of other navigable spaces, buildings, or areas that may bejoined to data structure to link information together.

At optional step 635, and continuing to refer to FIG. 6, a secondtransmitter may be installed at a second location in navigable space.Second transmitter may be installed at any suitable location forinstallation of first transmitter, including without limitation at auser feature. In an embodiment, a user installing second transmitter,who may or may not be the user installing first transmitter, may enteran instruction specifying a user feature, such as an accessible toilet;user may then install second transmitter at user feature, such aswithout limitation on a back of a stall door to the accessible toilet.An indication of second location at which second transmitter has been oris going to be installed may also be received as described above, alongwith any additional instructions, usage sequences, navigation sequences,venue identifiers, or names as described above. Information may belinked to a second unique identifier stored on second transmitter;linking may be implemented as described above; linking may includereceiving a signal from second transmitter and parsing the signal toobtain the second unique identifier as described above. Method 600 mayinclude installation of additional transmitters as described herein;each transmitter may be related to other installed transmitters usingany data structure and/or map as described above.

Still referring to FIG. 6, the following exemplary embodiment ispresented to illustrate a possible implementation of method 600; thepresentation of this example is for the purposes of illustration only,and should not be construed as limiting in any way the scope of method600 or of any other method or system disclosed herein. In an exemplaryembodiment, a user may identify or name in a data structure, which mayinclude a database, first location; user may enter this information viaa mobile computing device such as a smartphone by way of a mobileapplication and/or web application. Data structure may be located on acloud service or other remote data service. First location may, in thisexample, be placed on a map as described above; alternatively orinitially, no map may be used. User may enter one or more furtherinstructions-describing or referring to a venue (e.g., a particularrestaurant brand at a particular address) via the computing device. Usermay enter one or more instructions describing or referring to a name fornavigable space, such as “Men's Restroom”; name may be selected from alist of names for specific locations at the venue. Further continuingthe example, user may install first transmitter at a particularlocation, such as an ADA sign next to the Men's restroom. User may enterinformation linking name to unique identifier of first transmitter; thismay be performed, for example, by scanning or otherwise receiving asignal from first transmitter after selection of name as describedabove. Computing device may obtain the unique identifier according toany process described above; as a non-limiting example, computing devicemay receive a signal from first transmitter, parse the signal, extractthe unique identifier from the signal, and link the name to the uniqueidentifier.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 6, and further continuing the example, usermay create or select a description of a feature via computing device,for instance by creating or selecting the description of the featureusing a mobile or web application; as an illustrative example, user mayselect a feature description corresponding to an accessible toilet. Usermay install a second transmitter at a location corresponding to thefeature description; as an illustrative example, where the featuredescription corresponds to an accessible toilet, user may install thesecond transmitter on the back of a stall door to the accessible toilet.Still continuing the example, computing device may link the feature namewith a unique identifier of the second transmitter; this may beimplemented using any procedure for linking as described above.

Alternatively or additionally, and still referring to FIG. 6, user maycreate or select a description of a particular location within navigablespace, where the particular location may or may not be a location of afeature. Particular location may, for instance, be an easilyidentifiable location within navigable space; particular location may bea location adjacent to an architectural feature, such as a location justinside a door to a restroom. Particular location may be a locationadjacent to a user feature, such as adjacent to a stall or bank ofstalls. Particular location may be a location of a tactile sign,baseboard guide, or other informational object as described above.Particular location may be a central location within navigable space,such as a central location within a room. Second transmitter may belocated at particular location; alternatively or additionally, mobilecomputing device may track user's progress toward particular locationusing navigational means, beacons, IMU, or any combination thereof. Inan embodiment, mobile computing device, as configured by a mobileapplication, web application, or the like, and/or as triggered orinstructed by a signal from first transmitter, may instruct user toproceed to particular location. Alternatively or additionally, aninformational object such as a tactile sign or the like may direct userto proceed to particular location.

With continued reference to FIG. 6, and further continuing the example,upon arrival at particular location, user may proceed to a feature, suchas an architectural feature or a user feature; feature may have beenentered, created, or selected by user via computing device. Feature maybe selected or identified by user upon arrival at particular location;selection of feature may be performed according to any means or methodas described herein for selection of a feature, such as withoutlimitation any means or method for selection of a feature in any step ofmethod 500 above. User receive instructions to proceed to feature;instructions may be presented to user by any user output component 164as described above. Instructions may be generated according to any meansor method described herein, including any means or method for producingnavigational instructions in any step of method 500 as described above.Alternatively or additionally, user may manually enter directions fromfirst transmitter and/or particular location to particular locationand/or feature, or vice-versa. User may enter directions by typing,speaking, selection from pre-created options presented to user, or anyother suitable means or method. Directions so entered may be inserted ina data structure such as second data structure described in reference toFIG. 5; directions may be linked to additional directions such asdirections for navigating to first transmitter and/or particularlocation, directions for using feature, or any other usage, operational,or other data. As a non-limiting example, directions may instruct alater user to proceed in a particular direction, such as straight infront of the user, to the left, to the right, at a diagonal to theright, or the like, to travel a distance, such as 8 feet, in the givendirection, and/or proceed to an intermediate destination such as the endof the wall or inside the door to a vestibule; similar steps may berepeated until the user arrives at particular location, user feature, orany other intended destination. Directions may include a first set ofdirections to a primary feature and a second set of directions to anassociated feature; for instance, directions may first instruct a userto proceed to and/or use a sink, and subsequently to proceed to and/oruse a soap dispenser. Directions may instruct a user to a stall door andsubsequently to a coat hook within or at a corresponding stall.Directions may instruct a user to a stall door and subsequently to aseat cover within a corresponding stall. Feature usage data of eachprimary and/or secondary feature may be included and/or linked todirections, and may be added to one or more data structures such aswithout limitation second data structure as described above in referenceto FIG. 5. In an embodiment, a subsequent user, who may or may not bethe user that performed steps of method 600 as described above maymodify or replace directions. Any step or steps of the above-describedprocess or processes may be repeated for additional locations with orwithout additional transmitters, additional features, and the like.

Turning now to FIG. 7, an exemplary embodiment of a method 700 ofcalibration of transmitter-provided location data is illustrated. Atstep 705, a first signal from a first transmitter indicating anestimated location of a second transmitter in a navigable space isreceived by a wireless receiver coupled to a computing device. Wirelessreceiver may be any wireless receiver 104 as described above; computingdevice may be, without limitation, any portable computing device 160 asdescribed above. First transmitter and/or may be any transmittersuitable for use as at least a first transmitter 128 or a secondtransmitter 156; for instance, first transmitter may include one or morebeacons, and first transmitter may estimate and/or detect location ofwireless receiver 104 according to any protocol for such detection bybeacons.

At step 710, and still referring to FIG. 7, wireless receiver receives asecond signal from second transmitter; where second transmitter is apassive transmitter, receiving may include interrogating secondtransmitter and receiving a return signal as above. At step 715,computing device identifies an actual location of the second transmitteras a function of the second signal. Determining actual location may beperformed according to any means or method described above, includingwithout limitation determination based on proximity to a passive secondtransmitter. Location may be determined by reference to a data structureand/or map as described above in reference to FIG. 5. At step 720,computing device determines that estimated location is different fromactual location; for instance, estimated location and actual locationmay indicate different locations within a coordinate system as describedabove; determining that they are different may involve determining thatthe difference between their points in the coordinate system under anorm used to measure distance in the coordinate system, is greater thansome threshold amount or tolerance. Threshold amount or tolerance may beany virtual, relative, or absolute distance. For instance, thresholdamount may a half-meter in any horizontal direction, a meter in anydirection, or any desired threshold set by a user. Threshold maycorrespond to a minimum resolution of accuracy for estimating locationsaccording to methods used by first transmitter; for instance, if firsttransmitter is a beacon, and is unable typically to detect a userlocation more accurately than within a foot of the user location,threshold may be equal to or greater than one foot.

At step 720, with continued reference to FIG. 7, computing device maytransmit, via the wireless receiver and to the first transmitter, acorrection of the estimated location as a function of the actuallocation. Correction may include the actual location, for instance thecoordinates thereof. Correction may include a degree and direction ofinaccuracy. In some embodiments, this method enables beacons to correctfor environmental distortion of location methods, such as distortioncreated by unexpectedly reflecting signals, noise, overcrowding, and thelike.

Referring now to FIG. 8, an exemplary embodiment of a system 800 forusing usage guidance using wireless communication is illustrated. System800 includes a wireless receiver 804, which may be any device suitablefor use as wireless receiver 104 as described above in reference toFIGS. 1-7. Wireless receiver 804 is configured to wirelessly receive afirst signal from a transmitter 808, which may be any device suitablefor use as first transmitter 128 as described above in reference toFIGS. 1-7. System 800 includes a portable computing device 812; portablecomputing device may be any device suitable for use as a device 100and/or computing device 160 as described above in reference to FIGS.1-7. Portable computing device 812 may incorporate wireless receiver804, or be communicatively connected to wireless receiver 804 accordingto any means or method for combining device 100 and/or computing device160 with wireless receiver 104 as described above in reference to FIG.107.

In an embodiment, and still referring to FIG. 8, portable computingdevice 812 may be communicatively connected to a first database 816;first database may include any database or other data structure used fordata storage as described above in reference to FIGS. 1-7. Firstdatabase 816 may be stored in memory of portable computing device 812;alternatively or additionally, first database 816 may be stored at afirst remote device 820. First remote device 820 may be any computingdevice as described herein in reference to FIG. 11 and/or FIGS. 1-7, orany combination thereof; first remote device 820 may operate as aserver, element of a cloud server, or the like. Portable computingdevice 812 may be communicatively connected to a second database 824;second database may include any database or other data structure usedfor data storage as described above in reference to FIGS. 1-7. Seconddatabase 824 may be stored in memory of portable computing device 812;alternatively or additionally second database 824 may be stored at asecond remote device 828. Second remote device 828 may be any computingdevice as described herein in reference to FIG. 11 and/or FIGS. 1-7, orany combination thereof; second remote device 828 may operate as aserver, element of a cloud server, or the like. In an embodiment, firstremote device 820 is distinct from second remote device 828;alternatively, second remote device 828 and first remote device 820 maybe the same device or set of devices. First database 816 may be distinctfrom second database 824, or the two databases may be the same database,or tables in the same database, or the like.

With continued reference to FIG. 8, portable computing device 812 may beconfigured to perform any method step introduced or disclosed in anyembodiment within this disclosure; or any sequence of such method steps,in any combination. For instance, and without limitation, portablecomputing device 812 may be designed and configured to parse firstsignal for at least a textual element, extract, from the at least atextual element, a unique transmitter identifier, provide a useridentifier, receive a first data record including a first user-specificdatum from a first database as a function of the user identifier,receive a second data record including a first item-specific datum froma second database as a function of the unique identifier, and generate auser-specific usage sequence as a function of the first user-specificdatum and the first item specific datum.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 8, system 800 may include at least a datastructure 832 relating a plurality of transmitter identifiers to aplurality of database identifiers. At least a data structure 832 may beimplemented according to any method or using any modules or componentsas described herein for databases or data structures.

Still referring to FIG. 8, system 800 may include a user outputcomponent 836 coupled to portable computing device 812; user outputcomponent 836 may include any device suitable for use as user outputcomponent 164 as described above in reference to FIGS. 1-7; User outputcomponent 836 may be configured to provide user-specific usage sequenceto user.

Referring now to FIG. 9, an exemplary embodiment of a method 900 ofusage guidance using wireless communication is illustrated. At step 905,portable computing device 812 wirelessly receives a signal fromtransmitter 804; this may be performed according to any process step orsteps, or using any device or module, as disclosed above in reference toFIGS. 1-8. Signal may be received via receiver 808. At step 910,portable computing device 812 parses first signal for at least a textualelement. This may be performed according to any process step or steps,or using any device or module, as disclosed above in reference to FIGS.1-8. At step 915, portable computing device 812 extracts a uniquetransmitter identifier from the at least a textual element. Each step inmethod 900, or in any other method as disclosed herein, that is shownbeing performed by a first device, such as portable computing device812, may be performed wholly on first device or by delegation to atleast a second device; for instance performance of task mayinclude-sending data representing a task input to at least a seconddevice and receiving data representing a task output from at least asecond device, and where task has one or more sub-tasks, any sub-taskmay be performed wholly on first device or by delegation to at least asecond device.

At step 920, and still referring to FIG. 9, portable computing device812 provides a user identifier of a user of portable computing device.User identifier may include any identifier suitable for use as a useridentifier as described above in reference to FIGS. 1-8; user identifiermay be obtained, generated, or otherwise provided according to anyprocess step or steps, or using any device or module, as disclosed abovein reference to FIGS. 1-8. For instance, and without limitation,providing the user identifier may include retrieving, from a datastructure linking devices to user identifiers, an identifier of a userof the portable computing device; data structure may include a datastructure on portable computing device 812 indicating ownership or useraccounts thereof, or may be on a remote device and link user identifiersand/or accounts to identifiers or signatures of computing devices.Receiving user identifier may include retrieving one or more groupidentifiers linked to user identifier, where the group identifiers may,without limitation, identify groups of user identifiers having commoninterests, common needs for assistance or accommodation, or accessprivileges. For instance, may at least a group identifier may identify agroup of users that are affiliated with an institution, company,business, or club, a group of users with a certain degree of visual ormobility impairment, or the like; each user identifier may be associatedwith one or many groups and/or group identifiers. Any group identifiermay have any structure or contents suitable for use as a useridentifier, and may be produced, generated, or received according to anyprocess or using any device or module suitable for production,generation, or reception of a user identifier.

At step 925, and with continued reference to FIG. 9, portable computingdevice 812 may receive a first data record including a firstuser-specific datum from a first database 816 as a function of the useridentifier. Receiving first data record may include generating a queryusing data available to portable computing device 812, including withoutlimitation transmitter identifier and/or user identifier. For instance,and without limitation, receiving first data record may includereceiving the first data record as a function of the user identifier.Receiving the first data record may include retrieving, from a datastructure relating a plurality of transmitter identifiers to a pluralityof database identifiers, a first identifier of the first database; andreceiving, from the first database, the first data record as a functionof the transmitter identifier and the first identifier. First identifiermay include, without limitation, an identifier usable within system 800to locate first database 816, such as a universal resource locator (URL)or the like, an address within a network deployed in system 800 of firstremote device 860 and/or first database 816; and/or a name or otheridentifier usable to retrieve such a locator. First identifier may beretrieved as a function of the user identifier; that is, a querycontaining data available to portable computing device 812, includingwithout limitation user identifier, may be generated and submitted todata structure 832. Providing first data record may include identifyingan access level of the first data record, determining an access levelassociated with the user identifier, and retrieving the first datarecord as a function of the access level associated with the useridentifier.

At step 930, and still viewing FIG. 9, portable computing devicereceives a second data record including a first item-specific datum froma second database 824 as a function of the unique identifier; receivingsecond data record may be performed according to any process step orsteps, or using any device or module suitable for receipt of first datarecord. Receiving second data record may include receiving the seconddata record as a function of the user identifier. Receiving second datarecord may include retrieving a second identifier of second database 824from a data structure 832 relating a plurality of transmitteridentifiers to a plurality of database identifiers and receiving thesecond data record as a function of the unique identifier and/or thesecond identifier from the second database. Second identifier may beretrieved using a query based on any data available to portablecomputing device 812; for instance, and without limitation, retrievingthe second identifier may include retrieving the second identifier as afunction of user identifier. First database 816 may be distinct fromsecond database 824. First database may be located at a first remotedevice 820; and the first identifier may identify first remote device820. Second database 824 may be located at a second remote device 828;second identifier may identify second remote device 828. Second remotedevice 828 may be distinct from first remote device 820.

At step 935, and with continued reference to FIG. 9, portable computingdevice generates a user-specific usage sequence as a function of thefirst user-specific datum and the first item specific datum; userspecific usage sequence may be any usage sequence that is generatedusing data retrieved as a function of user-specific data, incorporatinginstructions specific to a group or other collection including user, orthe like. Generation of usage sequence may be performed according to anyprocess step or steps, or using any device or module, as disclosed abovein reference to FIGS. 1-8. Usage sequence may include a packageextraction sequence, which may be any usage sequence containinginstructions for opening a package containing something and/orextracting something from a package, such, as a shipping package;instructions may be tailored to user's particular needs foraccommodation, such as visual impairment, impairment of movement, and/orimpairment of dexterity. Usage sequence may include a product assemblysequence, which may be any usage sequence explaining how to put aproduct or item together; instructions may be tailored to user'sparticular needs for accommodation, such as visual impairment,impairment of movement, and/or impairment of dexterity. For instance, ifa user has lost strength in his or her hands due to a stroke,Parkinson's or other ailment or accident, usage sequence may instructthe user to open a package using a feature of the package providing foreasier opening by sliding a pen or pencil through a metal loop on thepackage and suspending the package between two objects such as twochairs, then pressing down on the package to dislodge the package seal,or by placing the item on a flat surface with the open side down andslide two bars provided through two loops on a closed side of thepackage and then pulling up slowly on each bar to dislodge the packagefrom its contents; persons skilled in the art, upon reviewing theentirety of this disclosure, will be aware of various alternativeinstructions that may be provided for opening a package where afflictedwith limited mobility and/or strength. As an additional example, if auser lack's strength or tone to hold an item in place while placingbatteries in the device, usage sequence may include instructions toleave or place the item in the shipping container to hold the itemsteady while placing the batteries in their compartment. As a furtherexample, a person of limited mobility as noted above may be instructedto use tools to open a package where a user not so limited may beprovided instructions that do not include tools; for instance, apull-tab to open a package may require use of pliers, such as lockingpliers, for a user having limited grip-strength, while a user havingtypical grip strength may be instructed to seize and pull the tabdirectly. Usage sequence may include instructions for opening medicinebottles, including medicine bottles with “child-safety” or similarfeatures; such instructions may include, without limitation,instructions for opening such medicine bottles for visually impairedmore physically impaired persons.

Still viewing FIG. 9, generating the usage sequence may includedetermining a current location of transmitter and generating the usagesequence as a function of the current location. Determining currentlocation of transmitter 808 may be performed according to any processstep or steps, or using any device or module, as disclosed above inreference to FIGS. 1-8. For instance, determining current location oftransmitter 808 may include detecting a current location of wirelessreceiver 804 and/or portable computing device 812, and determiningcurrent location of transmitter 808 based on current location ofwireless receiver 804 and/or portable computing device 812.Alternatively or additionally, current location of transmitter 808 maybe determined by receiving a data record, including without limitationany data record recorded in any database, data structure, device, ormodule described herein, indicating most recently recorded location oftransmitter 808, where recency is determined by evaluation of timestampsincluded with data records. Provision of usage sequence as a function oflocation may include, without limitation, retrieval of one or moreinstructions or sequences thereof linked in any data structure withlocation; provision of usage sequence as a function of location mayinclude retrieval of data from any database, data structure, device, ormodule described herein linking a category of activity, a group orcategory of groups, a user, and/or a category of user to location,retrieving one or more instructions or sequences thereof linked in anydata structure with such of activity, a group or category of groups, auser, and/or a category of user. Retrieved one or more instructions orsequences thereof may be used to generate usage sequence. Additionalinformation may be retrieved and incorporated in or provided with usagesequence, including without limitation user comments or reviewsregarding location and/or item, matters regarding the information thatare relevant to one or more groups in which the user is a member,information concerning businesses or other nearby entities or people,such as hours of operation or the like.

Still viewing FIG. 9, generating usage sequence may include determininga group that the user belongs to generating the usage sequence as afunction of the group; this may be implemented according to any processstep or steps, or using any device or module, as disclosed above inreference to FIGS. 1-8. Groups may be organized according to any commonneed for accommodation and/or class of impairment; for instance, a firstgroup may be linked to visual impairment and concomitant need for usageinstructions that do not rely on sight for performance, while a secondgroup may be linked to a physical impairment such as lowered mobility ordexterity, such that usage instructions assume use of, for instance,tools to aid with reach, grip, or the like. Groups may include at leasta group identified by a common interest, such as a hobby or profession;thus if user belongs to a group of mechanics, and item includes a deviceor element that may be repaired by a mechanic, usage instruction may begenerated using stored steps or step sequences describing processes forrepair or modification of item by a mechanic.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 9, generating usage sequence may includereceiving, at the portable computing device, at least a user input, andgenerating the usage sequence as a function of the at least a userinput. This may be performed according to any process step or steps, orusing any device or module, as disclosed above in reference to FIGS.1-8. Generation of usage sequence may include retrieval of one or moreinstructions linked directly to user identifier, which may include oneor more instructions previously entered by user and/or on behalf of userby a second user; second user may, for instance, discuss user's needswith user via any suitable communication facility or means, enter usageinstructions that are linked to user identifier, and/or link existinguser instructions to user identifier, and such instructions may then beused to generate usage sequence. One or more instructions mayalternatively be linked to one or more group identifiers according toany of the above methods.

Still referring to FIG. 9, generating usage sequence may includereceiving a current status of the item at portable computing device 812and generating the usage sequence as a function of the current status ofthe item; as a non-limiting example, a first user may perform a seriesof actions on item and either enter an instruction indicating steps havebeen performed, or perform them according to a previously generatedusage sequence, which may then be indicated, either automatically or viauser entry to have been completed. A subsequent set of steps may assumecompletion of previous steps, and may be retrieved for instance as afunction of a link from previous steps, which may be performed using areference to an identifier of such sequence in previous sequence, or thelike.

In an embodiment, and still viewing FIG. 9, user access to any of theabove data records, usage instructions, and/or usage sequences may bedetermined by user account information and group membership information.This may be implemented according to any process step or steps, or usingany device or module, as disclosed above in reference to FIGS. 1-8.Retrieval of data, may, for instance, involve retrieval of informationlinked to the user's personal account and/or information generallyavailable to the public. Retrieval may involve retrieval of informationavailable to members of groups in which user identifier is included.System 800 may additionally or alternatively provide at least anavigation sequence, at least an element of operational data orinstructions, or the like; this may be implemented according to anyprocess step or steps, or using any device or module, as disclosed abovein reference to FIGS. 1-8. Navigation sequence and/or other sequence orinstructions may be concatenated before or after usage sequence, orbetween steps in usage sequence; for instance, instructions provided touser may be repeated for multiple items and/or locations, indicatingthat a first set of instructions are to be followed with a first itemand/or at a first location, followed by navigation, with or without itemto a second location and/or second item, at which or with regard towhich additional usage sequence instructions may be provided. Seconditem and/or second location may have a second-transmitter; this may beimplemented for example according to any process step or steps, or usingany device or module, as disclosed above in reference to FIGS. 1-8. Anycombination of usage sequence, usage instructions, navigation sequence,navigation instructions, operational instructions, or the like thatwould occur to a person of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewingentirety of this disclosure may be incorporated in any embodiment of anymethod disclosed herein, or combined with any step or sequence of stepsof any embodiment of any method, as disclosed herein.

At step 940, and still referring to FIG. 9, providing, by the portablecomputing device, the user-specific usage sequence to the user. This maybe implemented according to any process step or steps, or using anydevice or module, as disclosed above in reference to FIGS. 1-8.Provision may depend upon contextual information, such as userinformation; for instance, and as disclosed above in connection withFIGS. 1-8, portable computing device 812 and/or user output component836 may provide usage sequence and/or other information or sequences ofinstructions to user as a function of user's needed accommodations, suchas use of audio output devices to provide information to visuallyimpaired users or the like.

With continued reference to FIG. 9, portable computing device 812 mayadditionally receive at least a user input. At least a user input may beany user input described herein, and may be received according to anyprocess step or steps, or using any device or module, as disclosed abovein reference to FIGS. 1-8. Portable computing device 812 may write databased on the at least a user input to at least one of the first databaseand the second database; this may be performed according to any processstep or steps, or using any device or module, as disclosed above inreference to FIGS. 1-8. As a non-limiting example, user-linkedinformation regarding item may be incorporated in second database 824,and user-specific information entered by user, such as neededaccommodations, particular use user may have for item or something atlocation of item, or the like, may be entered in first database 816.This may in turn be used in a subsequent iteration of method 900.Portable computing device and/or user input may assign an access levelto data in user entry. Access level may indicate that data is availableto the public. Access level may indicate that data is available to atleast a user identifier. Access level may indicate that data isavailable to at least a group identifier. Alternatively or additionally,system 800 may receive, via any device in system, additional user-inputdata from a second user, and/or from a user distinct from first user;this data may be inserted in databases and/or data structures, and maybe used in any method or step of method as disclosed herein, accordingto any description for use of any data and/or user entry as described inthis disclosure.

Turning now to FIG. 10, a method 1000 of usage guidance using wirelesscommunication is disclosed. At step 1005, method 1000 may includewirelessly receiving, by a portable computing device coupled to awireless receiver, a signal from a transmitter located at an item; thismay be performed according to any process step or steps, or using anydevice or module, as disclosed above in reference to FIGS. 1-8. At step1010, method 1000 may include parsing, by the portable computing device,the first signal for at least a textual element; this may be performedaccording to any process step or steps, or using any device or module,as disclosed above in reference to FIGS. 1-8. At step 1015, method mayinclude extracting, by the portable computing device, from the at leasta textual element, a unique identifier of the transmitter; this may beperformed according to any process step or steps, or using any device ormodule, as disclosed above in reference to FIGS. 1-8. At step 1020,method may include retrieving, from a data structure relating aplurality of transmitter identifiers to a plurality of databaseidentifiers, a first identifier of a first database of a plurality ofdatabases; this may be performed according to any process step or steps,or using any device or module, as disclosed above in reference to FIGS.1-8. At step 1025, method may include this may be performed according toany process step or steps, or using any device or module, as disclosedabove in reference to FIGS. 1-8. At step 1030, method may includereceiving, from the first database, a first data record as a function ofthe unique identifier; this may be performed according to any processstep or steps, or using any device or module, as disclosed above inreference to FIGS. 1-8. At step 1035, method may include generating, bythe portable computing device, a usage sequence for use of the item as afunction of the first data record; this may be performed according toany process step or steps, or using any device or module, as disclosedabove in reference to FIGS. 1-8. At step 1040, method may includeproviding, to a user of the portable computing device, the at least ausage instruction; this may be performed according to any process stepor steps, or using any device or module, as disclosed above in referenceto FIGS. 1-8.

It is to be noted that any one or more of the aspects and embodimentsdescribed herein may be conveniently implemented using one or moremachines (e.g., one or more computing devices that are utilized as auser computing device for an electronic document, one or more serverdevices, such as a document server, etc.) programmed according to theteachings of the present specification, as will be apparent to those ofordinary skill in the computer art. Appropriate software coding canreadily be prepared by skilled programmers based on the teachings of thepresent disclosure, as will be apparent to those of ordinary skill inthe software art. Aspects and implementations discussed above employingsoftware and/or software modules may also include appropriate hardwarefor assisting in the implementation of the machine executableinstructions of the software and/or software module.

Such software may be a computer program product that employs amachine-readable storage medium. A machine-readable storage medium maybe any medium that is capable of storing and/or encoding a sequence ofinstructions for execution by a machine (e.g., a computing device) andthat causes the machine to perform any one of the methodologies and/orembodiments described herein. Examples of a machine-readable storagemedium include, but are not limited to, a magnetic disk, an optical disc(e.g., CD, CD-R, DVD, DVD-R, etc.), a magneto-optical disk, a read-onlymemory “ROM” device, a random access memory “RAM” device, a magneticcard, an optical card, a solid-state memory device, an EPROM, an EEPROM,and any combinations thereof. A machine-readable medium, as used herein,is intended to include a single medium as well as a collection ofphysically separate media, such as, for example, a collection of compactdiscs or one or more hard disk drives in combination with a computermemory. As used herein, a machine-readable storage medium does notinclude transitory forms of signal transmission.

Such software may also include information (e.g., data) carried as adata signal on a data carrier, such as a carrier wave. For example,machine-executable information may be included as a data-carrying signalembodied in a data carrier in which the signal encodes a sequence ofinstruction, or portion thereof, for execution by a machine (e.g., acomputing device) and any related information (e.g., data structures anddata) that causes the machine to perform any one of the methodologiesand/or embodiments described herein.

Examples of a computing device include, but are not limited to, anelectronic book reading device, a computer workstation, a terminalcomputer, a server computer, a handheld device (e.g., a tablet computer,a smartphone, etc.), a web appliance, a network router, a networkswitch, a network bridge, any machine capable of executing a sequence ofinstructions that specify an action to be taken by that machine, and anycombinations thereof. In one example, a computing device may includeand/or be included in a kiosk.

FIG. 11 shows a diagrammatic representation of one embodiment of acomputing device in the exemplary form of a computer system 1100 withinwhich a set of instructions for causing a control system, such as theabove-described systems and methods, to perform any one or more of theaspects and/or methodologies of the present disclosure may be executed.It is also contemplated that multiple computing devices may be utilizedto implement a specially configured set of instructions for causing oneor more of the devices to perform any one or more of the aspects and/ormethodologies of the present disclosure. Computer system 1100 includes aprocessor 1104 and a memory 1108 that communicate with each other, andwith other components, via a bus 1112. Bus 1112 may include any ofseveral types of bus structures including, but not limited to, a memorybus, a memory controller, a peripheral bus, a local bus, and anycombinations thereof, using any of a variety of bus architectures.

Memory 1108 may include various components (e.g., machine-readablemedia) including, but not limited to, a random access memory component,a read only component, and any combinations thereof. In one example, abasic input/output system 1118 (BIOS), including basic routines thathelp to transfer information between elements within computer system1100, such as during start-up, may be stored in memory 1108. Memory 1108may also include (e.g., stored on one or more machine-readable media)instructions (e.g., software) 1120 embodying any one or more of theaspects and/or methodologies of the present disclosure. In anotherexample, memory 1108 may further include any number of program modulesincluding, but not limited to, an operating system, one or moreapplication programs, other program modules, program data, and anycombinations thereof.

Computer system 1100 may also include a storage device 1124. Examples ofa storage device (e.g., storage device 1124) include, but are notlimited to, a hard disk drive, a magnetic disk drive, an optical discdrive in combination with an optical medium, a solid-state memorydevice, and any combinations thereof. Storage device 1124 may beconnected to bus 1112 by an appropriate interface (not shown). Exampleinterfaces include, but are not limited to, SCSI, advanced technologyattachment (ATA), serial ATA, universal serial bus (USB), IEEE 1394(FIREWIRE), and any combinations thereof. In one example, storage device1124 (or one or more components thereof) may be removably interfacedwith computer system 1100 (e.g., via an external port connector (notshown)). Particularly, storage device 1124 and an associatedmachine-readable medium 1128 may provide nonvolatile and/or volatilestorage of machine-readable instructions, data structures, programmodules, and/or other data for computer system 1100. In one example,software 1120 may reside, completely or partially, withinmachine-readable medium 1128. In another example, software 1120 mayreside, completely or partially, within processor 1104.

Computer system 1100 may also include an input device 1132. In oneexample, a user of computer system 1100 may enter commands and/or otherinformation into computer system 1100 via input device 1132. Examples ofan input device 1132 include, but are not limited to, an alpha-numericinput device (e.g., a keyboard), a pointing device, a joystick, agamepad, an audio input device (e.g., a microphone, a voice responsesystem, etc.), a cursor control device (e.g., a mouse), a touchpad, anoptical scanner, a video capture device (e.g., a still camera, a videocamera), a touchscreen, and any combinations thereof. Input device 1132may be interfaced to bus 1112 via any of a variety of interfaces (notshown) including, but not limited to, a serial interface, a parallelinterface, a game port, a USB interface, a FIREWIRE interface, a directinterface to bus 1112, and any combinations thereof. Input device 1132may include a touch screen interface that may be a part of or separatefrom display 1138, discussed further below. Input device 1132 may beutilized as a user selection device for selecting one or more graphicalrepresentations in a graphical interface as described above.

A user may also input commands and/or other information to computersystem 1100 via storage device 1124 (e.g., a removable disk drive, aflash drive, etc.) and/or network interface device 1140. A networkinterface device, such as network interface device 1140, may be utilizedfor connecting computer system 1100 to one or more of a variety ofnetworks, such as network 1144, and one or more remote devices 1148connected thereto. Examples of a network interface device include, butare not limited to, a network interface card (e.g., a mobile networkinterface card, a LAN card), a modem, and any combination thereof.Examples of a network include, but are not limited to, a wide areanetwork (e.g., the Internet, an enterprise network), a local areanetwork (e.g., a network associated with an office, a building, a campusor other relatively small geographic space), a telephone network, a datanetwork associated with a telephone/voice provider (e.g., a mobilecommunications provider data and/or voice network), a direct connectionbetween two computing devices, and any combinations thereof. A network,such as network 1144, may employ a wired and/or a wireless mode ofcommunication. In general, any network topology may be used. Information(e.g., data, software 1120, etc.) may be communicated to and/or fromcomputer system 1100 via network interface device 1140.

Computer system 1100 may further include a video display adapter 1152for communicating a displayable image to a display device, such asdisplay device 1138. Examples of a display device include, but are notlimited to, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a cathode ray tube (CRT), aplasma display, a light emitting diode (LED) display, and anycombinations thereof. Display adapter 1152 and display device 1138 maybe utilized in combination with processor 1104 to provide graphicalrepresentations of aspects of the present disclosure. In addition to adisplay device, computer system 1100 may include one or more otherperipheral output devices including, but not limited to, an audiospeaker, a printer, and any combinations thereof. Such peripheral outputdevices may be connected to bus 112 via a peripheral interface 1158.Examples of a peripheral interface include, but are not limited to, aserial port, a USB connection, a FIREWIRE connection, a parallelconnection, and any combinations thereof.

The foregoing has been a detailed description of illustrativeembodiments of the invention. Various modifications and additions can bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.Features of each of the various embodiments described above may becombined with features of other described embodiments as appropriate inorder to provide a multiplicity of feature combinations in associatednew embodiments. Furthermore, while the foregoing describes a number ofseparate embodiments, what has been described herein is merelyillustrative of the application of the principles of the presentinvention. Additionally, although particular methods herein may beillustrated and/or described as being performed in a specific order, theordering is highly variable within ordinary skill to achieve methods,systems, and software according to the present disclosure. Accordingly,this description is meant to be taken only by way of example, and not tootherwise limit the scope of this invention.

Exemplary embodiments have been disclosed above and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. It will be understood by those skilled in the artthat various changes, omissions and additions may be made to that whichis specifically disclosed herein without departing from the spirit andscope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for usage guidance using wireless communication, the device on the person of a user, the device comprising: a wireless receiver, the wireless receiver configured to wirelessly receive from a transmitter a first signal; a portable computing device, the portable computing device-coupled to the wireless receiver, wherein the portable computing device is designed and configured to: parsing the first signal for at least a textual element; extract, from the at least a textual element, a unique transmitter identifier; provide a user identifier receive a first data record including a first user-specific datum from a first database as a function of the user identifier; receive a second data record including a first item-specific datum from a second database as a function of the unique identifier; and generate a user-specific usage sequence as a function of the first user-specific datum and the first item specific datum; and a user output component coupled to the portable computing device, wherein the user output component is configured to: providing the user-specific usage sequence to the user.
 2. A method of usage guidance using wireless communication, the method comprising: wirelessly receiving, by a portable computing device coupled to a wireless receiver, a signal from a transmitter located at an item; parsing, by the portable computing device, the first signal for at least a textual element; extracting, by the portable computing device, from the at least a textual element, a unique transmitter identifier; providing, by the portable computing device, a user identifier of a user of the portable computing device; receiving, by the portable computing device, a first data record including a first user-specific datum from a first database as a function of the user identifier; receiving, by the portable computing device, a second data record including a first item-specific datum from a second database as a function of the unique identifier; generating, by the portable computing device, a user-specific usage sequence as a function of the first user-specific datum and the first item specific datum; and providing, by the portable computing device, the user-specific usage sequence to the user.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein providing the user identifier further comprises retrieving, from a data structure linking devices to user identifiers, an identifier of a user of the portable computing device.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving the first data record further comprises receiving the first data record as a function of the user identifier.
 5. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving the first data record further comprises: retrieving, from a data structure relating a plurality of transmitter identifiers to a plurality of database identifiers, a first identifier of the first database; and receiving, from the first database, the first data record as a function of the transmitter identifier and the first identifier.
 6. The method of claim 2, wherein retrieving the first identifier further comprises retrieving the first identifier as a function of the user identifier.
 7. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving the second data record further comprises receiving the second data record as a function of the user identifier.
 8. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving the second data record further comprises: retrieving, from a data structure relating a plurality of transmitter identifiers to a plurality of database identifiers, a second identifier of the second database; receiving, from the second database, the second data record as a function of the unique identifier and the second identifier.
 9. The method of claim 2, wherein retrieving the second identifier further comprises retrieving the second identifier as a function of the user identifier.
 10. The method of claim 2, wherein the first database is distinct from the second database.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first database is at a first remote device, and a first identifier identifies the first remote device.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein: the second database is at a second remote device; the second remote device is distinct from the first remote device; and a second identifier identifies the second remote device.
 13. The method of claim 2, wherein the usage sequence further comprises a package extraction sequence.
 14. The method of claim 2, wherein the usage sequence further comprises a product assembly sequence.
 15. The method of claim 2, wherein the usage sequence further comprises contents data.
 16. The method of claim 2, wherein generating the usage sequence further comprises: determining a current location of the transmitter; and generating the usage sequence as a function of the current location.
 17. The method of claim 2, wherein generating the usage sequence further comprises: determining a group that the user belongs to; and generating the usage sequence as a function of the group.
 18. The method of claim 2, wherein generating the usage sequence further comprises: receiving, at the portable computing device, at least a user input; and generating the usage sequence as a function of the at least a user input.
 19. The method of claim 2, wherein generating the usage sequence further comprises: receiving, at the portable computing device, a current status of the item; and generating the usage sequence as a function of the current status of the item.
 20. The method of claim 2 further comprising receiving, at the portable computing device, at least a user input.
 21. The method of claim 20 further comprising writing data based on the at least a user input to at least one of the first database and the second database.
 22. The method of claim 21 further comprising assigning an access level to the data.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the access level indicates the data is available to the public.
 24. The method of claim 22, wherein the access level indicates the data is available to at least a user identifier.
 25. The method of claim 22, wherein the access level indicates the data is available to at least a group identifier. 